KDM2A and KDM2B protect a subset of CpG islands from DNA methylation.

In the mammalian genome, most CpGs are methylated. However, CpGs within the CpG islands (CGIs) are largely unmethylated, which are important for gene expression regulation. The mechanism underlying the low methylation levels at CGIs remains largely elusive.

Analysis of the incidence of influenza before and after the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea.

Objectives: Influenza outbreaks of varying size occur every year, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries experienced influenza at lower levels. However, following the relaxation of COVID-19 prevention measures in 2022, the incidence of influenza began to increase gradually. Thus, this study compared the occurrence of influenza from week 36 of 2017, before the COVID-19 outbreak, until 2023.

Risk score model for predicting mortality among patients with lung cancer.

Background: To develop an accurate mortality risk predictive model among patients with lung cancer.

Methods: The development cohort included 96,255 patients with lung cancer aged ≥19 years, who underwent a Korean National Health Insurance Service health check-up from 2005 to 2015. The validation cohort consisted of 18,432 patients (≥19 years) with lung cancer from another region.

Monsoonal impacts on the community trophic niches in two temperate headwater tributaries across a land use continuum.

Pulsed flows following heavy monsoon rain events alter riverine food webs, but their impact on headwater stream food webs across the continuum from forested canopy to open agricultural land use remains unclear. We investigated carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in macroinvertebrates and fish in two tributaries of the Suyeung River, Korea, before and after heavy monsoon rains to assess changes in community trophic niches. Basal resources (leaf litter and biofilms) exhibited consistent δC and δN values across seasons, with biofilms showing higher δC values.

The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Pediatric Orthopedic Injuries: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on the pediatric population worldwide. The consequences of the lockdown and the reallocation of hospital resources have caused notable changes in the presentation of pediatric orthopedic injuries. Through our use of patient records, we were able to display the epidemiological trends, as well as analyze the changes in the type and mechanism of various injuries.

Hepatitis B Virus X Protein Induces Reactive Oxygen Species Generation via Activation of p53 in Human Hepatoma Cells.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV), particularly through the HBx protein, induces oxidative stress during liver infections. This study reveals that HBx increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) via two distinct mechanisms. The first mechanism is p53-independent, likely involving mitochondrial dysfunction, as demonstrated by elevated ROS levels in p53-deficient Hep3B cells and p53-knocked-down HepG2 cells after HBx expression or HBV infection.

Prognostic value of the mutation in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma receiving FOLFIRINOX.

Background: , , , and have been the main driver mutations in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Studies on the clinical significance and treatment response to 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX) regimen in terms of the presence of these mutations remain inconclusive.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the survival outcome and response to FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy based on the presence of four driver mutation genes.

Effect of wearing N95 masks for 10 hours on ambulatory blood pressure in healthy adults.

The impact of wearing a face mask for an extended duration is unknown. This study aimed to determine if wearing a face mask for 10 h impacts blood pressure (BP) and arterial stiffness. Subjects received an ambulatory blood pressure cuff and were asked to wear it for 10 h while readings were taken every 15 min.

Chungtaejeon (CTJ) inhibits adhesion and migration of VSMC through cytoskeletal remodeling pathway.

Introduction: Vascular remodeling is crucial for the progression of vascular disease such as atherosclerosis. We utilize the experimental model of atherosclerosis to elucidate the activity of Chungtaejeon (CTJ), a Korean fermented tea on adhesion and migration of human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (HASMC).

Materials And Methods: Various assays such as cell viability, cell adhesion, Western blot, immunofluorescence, were carried out on HASMC to explore pathway associated with cytoskeletal remodeling during the progression of atherosclerosis.

Dermal toxicity studies of 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one (CAS number: 2634-33-5) in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Biocides are used as preservatives in various household products, and 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one (BIT) is one of the popular chemicals. Therefore, BIT is highly likely to be exposed to human skin, necessitating dermal toxicity evaluation. In this study, we aimed to investigate dermal toxicity, eyes and skin irritation, and skin sensitization of BIT.

Isolation and characterization of two new species, Hymenobacter mellowenesis sp. nov. and Hymenobacter aranciens sp. nov., from soil.

Strains M29 and ASUV-10-1, which are aerobic, non-flagellated, and Gram-stain-negative, were isolated from soil samples collected in Inje (37°57'49.1"N 128°19'53.7"E) and Cheonan City (36°48'47.

Predictors of change in CD4 cell count over time for HIV/AIDS patients on ART follow-up in northern Ethiopia: a retrospective longitudinal study.

Background: HIV has an effect on lowering CD4 cell count, which lowers the ability to resist contamination. For patients on ART in areas with limited resources, the CD4 cell count assessment is crucial for determining treatment responses and therapeutic decisions. The volatility of CD4 counts following the introduction of ART over time is still largely uncharacterized, and there are few fresh datasets on CD4 cell count progressions.

Immunometabolic cues recompose and reprogram the microenvironment around implanted biomaterials.

Circulating monocytes infiltrate and coordinate immune responses in tissues surrounding implanted biomaterials and in other inflamed tissues. Here we show that immunometabolic cues in the biomaterial microenvironment govern the trafficking of immune cells, including neutrophils and monocytes, in a manner dependent on the chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) and the C-X3-C motif chemokine receptor 1 (CX3CR1). This affects the composition and activation states of macrophage and dendritic cell populations, ultimately orchestrating the relative composition of pro-inflammatory, transitory and anti-inflammatory CCR2, CX3CR1 and CCR2 CX3CR1 immune cell populations.

Surface Optimization of Noble-Metal-Free Conductive [MnCoNi]O Nanosheets for Boosting Their Efficacy as Hybridization Matrices.

Conductive 2D nanosheets have evoked tremendous scientific efforts because of their high efficiency as hybridization matrices for improving diverse functionalities of nanostructured materials. To address the problems posed by previously reported conductive nanosheets like poorly-interacting graphene and cost-ineffective RuO nanosheets, economically feasible noble-metal-free conductive [MnCoNi]O oxide nanosheets are synthesized with outstanding interfacial interaction capability. The surface-optimized [MnCoNi]O nanosheets outperformed RuO/graphene nanosheets as hybridization matrices in exploring high-performance visible-light-active (λ >420 nm) photocatalysts.