Self-assembling Gn head ferritin nanoparticle vaccine provides full protection from lethal challenge of in aged ferrets.

(DBV) is an emerging tick-borne virus that causes severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) in infected patients. Human SFTS symptoms progress from fever, fatigue, and muscle pain to the depletion of white blood cells and platelets with fatality rates up to 30%. The recent spread of its vector tick to over 20 states in the United States increases the potential for outbreaks of the SFTS beyond the East Asia.

Animal efficacy study of a plant extract complex (BEN815) as a potential treatment for COVID-19.

In a short time, several types of injectable and oral therapeutics have been developed and used to effectively manage patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). BEN815 is an improved mixture of three extracts (Psidium guajava, Camellia sinensis, and Rosa hybrida) recognized by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of Korea as a health food ingredient that alleviates allergic rhinitis. The current animal efficacy study was performed to assess its probability of improving COVID-19 symptoms.

Clinical characteristics and mortality rates of bacteremia caused by Streptococcus anginosus group: A retrospective study of 84 cases at a tertiary hospital in South Korea.

The Streptococcus anginosus group (SAG) is a subgroup of viridans streptococci comprising three species: S. anginosus, S. constellatus, and S.

SARS-CoV-2 variants with NSP12 P323L/G671S mutations display enhanced virus replication in ferret upper airways and higher transmissibility.

With the emergence of multiple predominant SARS-CoV-2 variants, it becomes important to have a comprehensive assessment of their viral fitness and transmissibility. Here, we demonstrate that natural temperature differences between the upper (33°C) and lower (37°C) respiratory tract have profound effects on SARS-CoV-2 replication and transmissibility. Specifically, SARS-CoV-2 variants containing the NSP12 mutations P323L or P323L/G671S exhibit enhanced RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) activity at 33°C compared with 37°C and high transmissibility.

Anti-Cancer Effect of Neural Stem Cells Transfected with Carboxylesterase and sTRAIL Genes in Animals with Brain Lesions of Lung Cancer.

A metastatic brain tumor is the most common type of malignancy in the central nervous system, which is one of the leading causes of death in patients with lung cancer. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a novel treatment for metastatic brain tumors with lung cancer using neural stem cells (NSCs), which encode rabbit carboxylesterase (rCE) and the secretion form of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (sTRAIL). rCE and/or sTRAIL were transduced in immortalized human fetal NSCs, HB1.

Self-assembling Gn head ferritin nanoparticle vaccine provides full protection from lethal challenge of Dabie Bandavirus in aged ferrets.

Dabie Bandavirus (DBV), previously known as Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) Virus, induces a characteristic thrombocytopenia with a mortality rate ranging from 12% to as high as 30%. The sero-prevalence of DBV in healthy people is not significantly different among age groups, but clinically diagnosed SFTS patients are older than ~50 years, suggesting that age is the critical risk factor for SFTS morbidity and mortality. Accordingly, our immune-competent ferret model demonstrates an age (>4 years old)-dependent DBV infection and pathogenesis that fully recapitulates human clinical manifestation.

Evaluating Z-FA-FMK, a host cathepsin L protease inhibitor, as a potent and broad-spectrum antiviral therapy against SARS-CoV-2 and related coronaviruses.

Even though the World Health Organization announced the end of the COVID-19 pandemic as a global public health emergency on May 5, 2023, SARS-CoV-2 continues to pose a significant health threat worldwide, resulting in substantial numbers of infections and fatalities. This study investigated the antiviral potential of Z-FA-FMK (FMK), a novel host cathepsin L protease inhibitor, against SARS-CoV-2 infection using both in vitro and in vivo models. In vitro assessments of FMK against a diverse set of SARS-CoV-2 strains, including the Wuhan-like strain and nine variants, demonstrated potent inhibition with EC values ranging from 0.

Denosumab-associated jaw bone necrosis in cancer patients: retrospective descriptive case series study.

Background: Denosumab (DMB) is a bone antiresorptive agent used to treat osteoporosis or metastatic cancer of the bones. However, denosumab-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw (DRONJ) has become a common complication in cancer patients. The prevalence of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) in cancer patients is estimated to be similar for both bisphosphonate-related cases (1.

Evaluation of the Antiviral Efficacy of Subcutaneous Nafamostat Formulated with Glycyrrhizic Acid against SARS-CoV-2 in a Murine Model.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic highlights the urgent need for effective antiviral agents and vaccines. Drug repositioning, which involves modifying existing drugs, offers a promising approach for expediting the development of novel therapeutics. In this study, we developed a new drug, MDB-MDB-601a-NM, by modifying the existing drug nafamostat (NM) with the incorporation of glycyrrhizic acid (GA).

ATF6 is a critical regulator of cadmium-mediated apoptosis in spermatocytes.

In this study, we examined the mechanisms of cadmium exposure-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response and apoptosis in spermatocytes. Responses to cadmium toxicity were investigated using spermatocytes overexpressing p50ATF6, ATF4, and spliced XBP1s, belonging to the 3 unfolded protein response pathways. The ER stress and apoptosis response to cadmium were most strongly stimulated through the activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) pathway; in contrast, siRNA-induced inhibition of protein expression could reduce apoptosis under stressful conditions.

Assessing Asthma Control by Impulse Oscillometry and Fractional Expiratory Nitric Oxide in Children With Normal Spirometry.

Background: Because spirometric parameters fail to address current status of asthma in some patients, additional tests are required for better evaluation of asthma.

Objective: We aimed to test the ability of impulse oscillometry (IOS) and fractional expiratory nitric oxide (FeNO) in identifying inadequately controlled asthma (ICA) that was not uncovered by spirometry.

Methods: Recruited asthmatic children between ages of 8 and 16 years underwent spirometry, IOS, and FeNO measurements on the same day.

SARS-CoV-2 molecular diagnostic point-of-care testing based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification: A prospective, single-center validation study.

Objectives: Rapid and accurate severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) diagnostic tests are crucial for controlling the spread of infections in emergency settings. This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of a point-of-care (POC) test based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) that produces rapid results within 30 min.

Methods: We prospectively included adult patients (age >19 years) who were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection within the last 3 days and symptomatic patients who had visited the emergency room.

A Rapid Method for Generating Infectious SARS-CoV-2 and Variants Using Mutagenesis and Circular Polymerase Extension Cloning.

The appearance of SARS-CoV-2 variants in late 2020 raised alarming global public health concerns. Despite continued scientific progress, the genetic profiles of these variants bring changes in viral properties that threaten vaccine efficacy. Thus, it is critically important to investigate the biologic profiles and significance of these evolving variants.

First-Pass Recanalization with EmboTrap II in Acute Ischemic Stroke (FREE-AIS): A Multicenter Prospective Study.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of EmboTrap II in terms of first-pass recanalization and to determine whether it could yield favorable outcomes.

Materials And Methods: In this multicenter, prospective study, we consecutively enrolled patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy using EmboTrap II as a front-line device. The primary outcome was the first pass effect (FPE) rate defined by modified Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) grade 2c or 3 by the first pass of EmboTrap II.

Influenza Treatment: Limitations of Antiviral Therapy and Advantages of Drug Combination Therapy.

Influenza infection is serious and debilitating for humans and animals. The influenza virus undergoes incessant mutation, segment recombination, and genome reassortment. As a result, new epidemics and pandemics are expected to emerge, making the elimination challenging of the disease.

Mosaic RBD nanoparticles induce intergenus cross-reactive antibodies and protect against SARS-CoV-2 challenge.

Recurrent spillovers of α- and β-coronaviruses (CoV) such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV, Middle East respiratory syndrome-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and possibly human CoV have caused serious morbidity and mortality worldwide. In this study, six receptor-binding domains (RBDs) derived from α- and β-CoV that are considered to have originated from animals and cross-infected humans were linked to a heterotrimeric scaffold, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) subunits, PCNA1, PCNA2, and PCNA3. They assemble to create a stable mosaic multivalent nanoparticle, 6RBD-np, displaying a ring-shaped disk with six protruding antigens, like jewels in a crown.

Development of a Universal Cloning System for Reverse Genetics of Human Enteroviruses.

Enteroviruses (EVs) have been associated with several human diseases. Due to their continuous emergence and divergence, EV species have generated more than 100 types and recombinant strains, increasing the public health threat caused by them. Hence, an efficient and universal cloning system for reverse genetics (RG) of highly divergent viruses is needed to understand the molecular mechanisms of viral pathology and evolution.

Changes of proapoptotic and antiapoptotic genes affect sensitivity to apoptotic stimuli in impaired contractility due to long term bladder outlet obstruction.

Introduction: The normal biological process that necessitates cell removal greatly depends on apoptosis. Long term bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) causes damaged smooth muscle cells to undergo apoptosis. However, smooth muscle cell apoptosis that BOO causes is not well known in impaired bladder contractility.

Current situation and control strategies of H9N2 avian influenza in South Korea.

The H9N2 avian influenza (AI) has become endemic in poultry in many countries since the 1990s, which has caused considerable economic losses in the poultry industry. Considering the long history of the low pathogenicity H9N2 AI in many countries, once H9N2 AI is introduced, it is more difficult to eradicate than high pathogenicity AI. Various preventive measures and strategies, including vaccination and active national surveillance, have been used to control the Y439 lineage of H9N2 AI in South Korea, but it took a long time for the H9N2 virus to disappear from the fields.

Bilateral cleft lip repair by new trending method: a case report.

Background: Bilateral cleft lip repair is one of the most difficult surgeries, and many techniques have been modified and developed to improve surgical outcomes. The current trend is toward preserving tissue as much as possible. When the reconstruction is based on the shape of the patient's own tissue, the most natural appearance is produced, and the relaxed remaining tissue can be benefitted from reducing tension and minimizing scarring.

Peroxiredoxin 2 Ameliorates AβO-Mediated Autophagy by Inhibiting ROS via the ROS-NRF2-p62 Pathway in N2a-APP Swedish Cells.

In Alzheimer's disease, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated by the deposition of amyloid-beta oligomers (AβOs), which represent one of the important causes of neuronal cell death. Additionally, AβOs are known to induce autophagy via ROS induction. Previous studies have shown that autophagy upregulation aggravates neuronal cell death.

Combination therapy with nirmatrelvir and molnupiravir improves the survival of SARS-CoV-2 infected mice.

As the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic remains uncontrolled owing to the continuous emergence of variants of concern, there is an immediate need to implement the most effective antiviral treatment strategies, especially for risk groups. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic potency of nirmatrelvir, remdesivir and molnupiravir, and their combinations in SARS-CoV-2 infected K18-hACE2 transgenic mice. Systemic treatment of mice with each drug (20 mg/kg) resulted in slightly enhanced antiviral efficacy and yielded an increased life expectancy of only about 20-40% survival.