Single Oral Toxicity Assessment and Phytochemical Analysis of the Ficus erecta Thunb. Leaf Extract.

Ficus erecta Thunb. is a traditional medicinal plant used to treat various diseases in Asian countries. We recently reported the potential of the ethanol extract of F.

Quality of life outcomes in terminal cancer patients attending regional cancer centers in South Korea: protocol for a prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Patients with cancer experience physical, mental, and social pain that affects themselves and their families. The increasing cancer incidence and advances in treatment have increased the number of cancer survivors in Korea, and there is an influx of patients in Seoul and other metropolitan areas, leading to shortages of continuous care and comprehensive life support facilities. Patients must travel long distances for treatment, which poses logistical and quality-of-life challenges.

Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of controlled-release phentermine/topiramate in adults with obesity in Korea: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 4 trial (QUEEN's study).

Aims: This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a combination of phentermine and delayed-release topiramate (PHEN/TPM CR) versus placebo as an adjunct to standard lifestyle recommendations in Korean adults.

Materials And Methods: This 56-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 4 trial enrolled adults (age 19-70 years) with obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m) at eight sites in South Korea. After a 12-week lifestyle programme, participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive PHEN/TPM CR or placebo.

HDAC6 inhibitor-loaded brain-targeted nanocarrier-mediated neuroprotection in methamphetamine-driven Parkinson's disease.

The dynamic equilibrium between acetylation and deacetylation is vital for cellular homeostasis. Parkinson's disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder marked by α-synuclein (α-syn) accumulation and dopaminergic neuron loss in the substantia nigra, is associated with a disruption of this balance. Therefore, correcting this imbalance with histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors represents a promising treatment strategy for PD.

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.

Distinctive roles of aquaporins and novel therapeutic opportunities against cancer.

Aquaporins (AQPs) are integral membrane proteins responsible for facilitating the transmembrane transport of water and small solutes. Their involvement in diverse physiological functions extends to pathological conditions, including cancer, positioning them as promising targets for anticancer therapy. Tumor cells, particularly those with high metastatic potential, exhibit elevated AQP expression, reinforcing their critical role in tumor biology.

Chromosome-level assemblies of the endemic Korean species Abeliophyllum distichum and Forsythia ovata.

Abeliophyllum distichum and Forsythia ovata are closely related species endemic to Korea and are highly valued as ornamental shrubs in the Oleaceae family. A combination of PacBio and Illumina sequencing with Hi-C scaffolding technologies was employed to develop chromosome-level genome assemblies of these species. The assembled genome sizes are 795.

Heme promotes venetoclax resistance in multiple myeloma through MEK-ERK signaling and purine biosynthesis.

We previously demonstrated that reduced intrinsic electron transport chain (ETC) activity predicts and promotes sensitivity to the BCL-2 antagonist, venetoclax (Ven) in multiple myeloma (MM). Heme, an iron-containing prosthetic group, and metabolite is fundamental to maintaining ETC activity. Interrogation of the CD2 subgroup of MM from the CoMMpass trial (NCT01454297), which can be used as a proxy for Ven-sensitive MM (VS MM), shows reduced expression of the conserved heme biosynthesis pathway gene signature.

Hybrid bagging and boosting with SHAP based feature selection for enhanced predictive modeling in intrusion detection systems.

The novelty and growing sophistication of cyber threats mean that high accuracy and interpretable machine learning models are needed more than ever before for Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems. This study aims to solve this challenge by applying Explainable AI techniques, including Shapley Additive explanations feature selection, to improve model performance, robustness, and transparency. The method systematically employs different classifiers and proposes a new hybrid method called Hybrid Bagging-Boosting and Boosting on Residuals.

Real-Time Fatigue Detection Algorithms Using Machine Learning for Yawning and Eye State.

Drowsiness while driving is a major factor contributing to traffic accidents, resulting in reduced cognitive performance and increased risk. This article gives a complete analysis of a real-time, non-intrusive sleepiness detection system based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs). The device analyses video data recorded from an in-vehicle camera to monitor drivers' facial expressions and detect fatigue indicators such as yawning and eye states.

OpticalTrust: A Sensor-to-Blockchain Framework Using Free-Space Optical Communication.

In the dynamic landscape of the tech industry, the escalating requirement for swift and secure data transmission has catalyzed innovation in integrated communication systems. Free-Space Optics (FSOs) has emerged as a promising contender in optical communications. While conventional optical fiber systems can achieve bit rates of up to 40 Gbps with proper design, they are limited primarily by electronics rather than semiconductor laser capabilities.

CNN-Based Kidney Segmentation Using a Modified CLAHE Algorithm.

This paper presents an enhanced approach to kidney segmentation using a modified CLAHE preprocessing method, aimed at improving image clarity and CNN performance on the KiTS19 dataset. To assess the impact of the modified CLAHE method, we conducted quality evaluations using the BRISQUE metric, comparing the original, standard CLAHE and modified CLAHE versions of the dataset. The BRISQUE score decreased from 28.

Emerging Biomarkers in Metabolomics: Advancements in Precision Health and Disease Diagnosis.

Metabolomics has come to the fore as an efficient tool in the search for biomarkers that are critical for precision health approaches and improved diagnostics. This review will outline recent advances in biomarker discovery based on metabolomics, focusing on metabolomics biomarkers reported in cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic health. In cancer, metabolomics provides evidence for unique oncometabolites that are important for early disease detection and monitoring of treatment responses.

A Review of Bandgap Engineering and Prediction in 2D Material Heterostructures: A DFT Perspective.

The advent of two-dimensional (2D) materials and their capacity to form van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures has revolutionized numerous scientific fields, including electronics, optoelectronics, and energy storage. This paper presents a comprehensive investigation of bandgap engineering and band structure prediction in 2D vdW heterostructures utilizing density functional theory (DFT). By combining various 2D materials, such as graphene, hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), transition metal dichalcogenides, and blue phosphorus, these heterostructures exhibit tailored properties that surpass those of individual components.

Medication Exposure and Risk of Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a complex neurodegenerative disease (ND), is the most predominant cause of dementia among the elderly. Generally, elderly people have multiple chronic health conditions, like hypertension, arthritis, diabetes, insomnia, bowel problems, and depression. Although prescribed medications have beneficial therapeutic compositions, some may have side effects that could hinder cognitive function or worsen cognitive decline.

Poly-D,L-Lactic Acid Fillers Increase Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Volume by Promoting Adipogenesis in Aged Animal Skin.

During aging, subcutaneous white adipose tissue (sWAT) thickness and the adipogenic potential of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) decline. Poly-D,L-lactic acid (PDLLA) fillers are commonly used to restore diminished facial volume. Piezo1 increases polarizing macrophages towards the M2 phenotype, which promotes the secretion of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), thereby increasing ASC survival.

Malvidin-3-O-Glucoside Mitigates α-Syn and MPTP Co-Induced Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in Human Microglial HMC3 Cells.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a widespread age-related neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the presence of an aggregated protein, α-synuclein (α-syn), which is encoded by the gene and localized to presynaptic terminals in a normal human brain. The α-syn aggregation is induced by the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mitochondrial neurotoxin and is therefore used to mimic PD-like pathology in various in vitro and in vivo models. However, in vitro PD-like pathology using α-syn and MPTP in human microglial cells has not yet been reported.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Extracellular Vesicles from on 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-Acetate-Induced Skin Inflammation in Mice.

Steroids, which are often used to treat the inflammation associated with various skin diseases, have several negative side effects. As extract has anti-inflammatory effects in various diseases, we evaluated the efficacy of -derived extracellular vesicles (EVEs) in decreasing 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced inflammation. We determined the effect of the EVEs on the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome in human keratinocytes and mouse ear skin.

Recent Advances in Fire Safety of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Composites for High-Pressure Hydrogen Storage Tanks.

The increasing use of hydrogen as a clean energy carrier has underscored the necessity for advanced materials that can provide safe storage under extreme conditions. Carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy (CFRP) composites are increasingly utilized in various high-performance applications, including automotive, aerospace, and particularly hydrogen storage tanks, due to their exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, durability, excellent corrosion resistance, and low thermal conductivity. However, the inherent flammability of epoxy matrices poses significant safety concerns, particularly in hydrogen storage, where safety is paramount.

Recent Progress on the Synthesis, Morphological Topography, and Battery Applications of Polypyrrole-Based Nanocomposites.

Polypyrrole (PPy)-based nanocomposite materials are of great interest to the scientific community owing to their usefulness in designing state-of-the-art industrial applications, such as fuel cells, catalysts and sensors, energy devices, and especially batteries. However, the commercialization of these materials has not yet reached a satisfactory level of implementation. More research is required for the design and synthesis of PPy-based composite materials for numerous types of battery applications.

Recent Advancements in Fabrication, Separation, and Purification of Hierarchically Porous Polymer Membranes and Their Applications in Next-Generation Electrochemical Energy Storage Devices.

In recent years, hierarchically porous polymer membranes (HPPMs) have emerged as promising materials for a wide range of applications, including filtration, separation, and energy storage. These membranes are distinguished by their multiscale porous structures, comprising macro-, meso-, and micropores. The multiscale structure enables optimizing the fluid dynamics and maximizing the surface areas, thereby improving the membrane performance.

The Relationship of Pork Meat Consumption with Nutrient Intakes, Diet Quality, and Biomarkers of Health Status in Korean Older Adults.

Background: Pork meat is a widely consumed protein food with the potential to differentially affect health and nutritional status across social and cultural contexts.

Objectives: We evaluated the association between pork meat consumption and nutrient intake, diet quality, and biomarkers of health among older adults (age ≥ 65 years) in Korea.

Methods: Our analyses utilized dietary and health examination data from the 2016-2020 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey ( = 2068).

Efficacy of ETB-F01, Heat-Killed Strain EB-AMDK19, in Patients with Respiratory Symptoms: A Multicenter Clinical Trial.

Respiratory symptoms are prevalent in the general population, and they are associated with a decline in lung function and increased mortality. The gut-lung connection suggests intestinal dysbiosis may impact lung diseases, with showing promise in regulating extraintestinal diseases. However, its application in patients with respiratory symptoms lacks clinical trial evidence.