Isoxazole-based molecules restore NK cell immune surveillance in hepatocarcinogenesis by targeting TM4SF5 and SLAMF7 linkage.

Dynamic communication between hepatocytes and the environment is critical in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. Clinical immunotherapy against HCC is currently unsatisfactory and needs more systemic considerations, including the identification of new biomarkers and immune checkpoints. Transmembrane 4 L six family member 5 (TM4SF5) is known to promote HCC, but it remains unclear how cancerous hepatocytes avoid immune surveillance and whether avoidance can be blocked.

Switching to Besifovir in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Receiving Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate: A Randomized Trial.

Background/aims: Besifovir (BSV) showed comparable antiviral activity superior safety profiles to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in treatment-naïve chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, no data are available regarding the antiviral efficacy and safety of BSV in patients with CHB who switched from long-term TDF to BSV. This study aimed to evaluate the outcome of a 48-week BSV therapy in patients with CHB who switched from long-term TDF treatment.

mtSTAT3 suppresses rheumatoid arthritis by regulating Th17 and synovial fibroblast inflammatory cell death with IL-17-mediated autophagy dysfunction.

Th17 cells are activated by STAT3 factors in the nucleus, and these factors are correlated with the pathologic progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recent studies have demonstrated the presence of STAT3 in mitochondria, but its function is unclear. We investigated the novel role of mitochondrial STAT3 (mitoSTAT3) in Th17 cells and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) and analyzed the correlation of mitoSTAT3 with RA.

Korean Gastric Cancer Association-Led Nationwide Survey on Surgically Treated Gastric Cancers in 2023.

Purpose: Since 1995, the Korean Gastric Cancer Association (KGCA) has been periodically conducting nationwide surveys on patients with surgically treated gastric cancer. This study details the results of the survey conducted in 2023.

Materials And Methods: The survey was conducted from March to December 2024 using a standardized case report form.

Korean Practice Guidelines for Gastric Cancer 2024: An Evidence-based, Multidisciplinary Approach (Update of 2022 Guideline).

Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers in both Korea and worldwide. Since 2004, the Korean Practice Guidelines for Gastric Cancer have been regularly updated, with the 4th edition published in 2022. The 4th edition was the result of a collaborative work by an interdisciplinary team, including experts in gastric surgery, gastroenterology, endoscopy, medical oncology, abdominal radiology, pathology, nuclear medicine, radiation oncology, and guideline development methodology.

Effectiveness of Buspirone in Alleviating Anxiety Symptoms in Patients with Depressive Disorder: A Multicenter Prospective Observational Study in Korea.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of buspirone as an adjunctive therapy for alleviating anxiety symptoms in patients with depressive disorders who are already taking antidepressants.

Methods: This was an open-label prospective multicenter non-interventional observational study conducted over 12 weeks. We enrolled 180 patients diagnosed with depressive disorders according to DSM-5 criteria and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) scores ≥ 18.

Effects of blood pressure lowering in patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis before endovascular thrombectomy.

Background: The effects of blood pressure (BP) lowering in patients treated with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA) before endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) are unclear.

Aims: This study aims to investigate whether intensive and conventional BP management affect outcomes differently, depending on IV tPA administration before EVT.

Methods: In this subgroup analysis of the Outcome in Patients Treated with Intra-Arterial Thrombectomy-Optimal Blood Pressure Control (OPTIMAL-BP; ClinicalTrials.

The effect of the guide hole height on the accuracy of implant placement: An in-vitro study.

Objective: Guided implant surgery using three-dimensional (3-D) planning software and 3-D printed surgical guides has become a critical tool for enhancing accuracy. This study aims to determine the minimum guide hole height necessary to maintain implant placement accuracy.

Materials And Methods: Ten maxillary models with edentulous areas were created using CT and optical scan data.

PredCMB: predicting changes in microbial metabolites based on the gene-metabolite network analysis of shotgun metagenome data.

Motivation: Microbiota-derived metabolites significantly impact host biology, prompting extensive research on metabolic shifts linked to the microbiota. Recent studies have explored both direct metabolite analyses and computational tools for inferring metabolic functions from microbial shotgun metagenome data. However, no existing tool specifically focuses on predicting changes in individual metabolite levels, as opposed to metabolic pathway activities, based on shotgun metagenome data.

Determinants of traditional Korean medicine utilization by individuals with physical disabilities: inference of causal relationships using Korea health panel data.

Background: The demand for health management services has grown among individuals with physical disabilities. It is noteworthy that a significant proportion of this demographic has sought the services of traditional Korean medicine (TKM). Nevertheless, there is a lack of research on the characteristics of TKM utilization within this population.

Role of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 inhibition in the antiobesity effect of J2H-1702 on adipocytes and a high-fat diet-induced NASH model.

Obesity due to excessive body fat accumulation remains a global problem. Patients with obesity have high cortisol levels, and its dysregulation is caused by increased 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) levels. The effects and mechanism of J2H-1702, an 11β-HSD1 inhibitor, on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) were explored.

Advances in modeling cellular state dynamics: integrating omics data and predictive techniques.

Dynamic modeling of cellular states has emerged as a pivotal approach for understanding complex biological processes such as cell differentiation, disease progression, and tissue development. This review provides a comprehensive overview of current approaches for modeling cellular state dynamics, focusing on techniques ranging from dynamic or static biomolecular network models to deep learning models. We highlight how these approaches integrated with various omics data such as transcriptomics, and single-cell RNA sequencing could be used to capture and predict cellular behavior and transitions.

Impact of Government Healthcare Policy Changes on Consumption and Human Movements During COVID-19: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis in Korea.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has altered daily behavioral patterns based on government healthcare policies, including consumption and movement patterns. We aimed to examine the extent to which changes in the government's healthcare policy have affected people's lives, primarily focusing on changes in consumption and population movements.

Methods: We collected consumption data using weekly credit card transaction data from the Hana Card Corporation and population mobility data using mobile phone data from SK Telecom in Seoul, South Korea.

Evaluation of a content-based image retrieval system for radiologists in high-resolution CT of interstitial lung diseases.

Background: This retrospective study aims to evaluate the impact of a content-based image retrieval (CBIR) application on diagnostic accuracy and confidence in interstitial lung disease (ILD) assessment using high-resolution computed tomography CT (HRCT).

Methods: Twenty-eight patients with verified pattern-based ILD diagnoses were split into two equal datasets (1 and 2). The images were assessed by two radiology residents (3rd and 5th year) and one expert radiologist in four sessions.

Relationships between Chronic Cough and Asthma Control and Quality-of-Life in Patients with Severe Asthma: A 6-Month Longitudinal Analysis.

Background: The prevalence and clinical implications of chronic cough (CC) in patients with severe asthma receiving asthma treatment remain relatively unknown.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between CC and asthma control and quality-of-life (QoL) in patients with severe asthma through longitudinal analysis.

Methods: Baseline and 6-month follow-up data from the Korean Severe Asthma Registry were analyzed.

Factors associated with the detection of atrial fibrillation in patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source.

Background: Detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) is important for the secondary prevention of stroke. We investigated the factors associated with the detection of newly diagnosed AF in ESUS patients during follow-up.

Methods: Patients with acute ischemic stroke classified as ESUS were included.

Leveraging explainable AI and large-scale datasets for comprehensive classification of renal histologic types.

Recently, as the number of cancer patients has increased, much research is being conducted for efficient treatment, including the use of artificial intelligence in genitourinary pathology. Recent research has focused largely on the classification of renal cell carcinoma subtypes. Nonetheless, the broader categorization of renal tissue into non-neoplastic normal tissue, benign tumor and malignant tumor remains understudied.

The Glucose-Lowering Effect of and D-Pinitol: Studies on Insulin Secretion in INS-1 Cells and the Reduction of Blood Glucose in Diabetic Rats.

Ice plant () is a vegetable with various therapeutic uses, one of which is its ability to prevent diabetes. The present study examined the insulin secretion effect related to the mechanism of action of ice plant extract (IPE) and its active compound D-pinitol in a rat insulin-secreting β-cell line, INS-1, as well as in diabetic rats. : The glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) test and Western blotting were used to measure GSIS.

The Relationship Between Impulsivity Traits and In Vivo Cerebral Serotonin Transporter and Serotonin 2A Receptor Binding in Healthy Individuals: A Double-Tracer PET Study with C-11 DASB and C-11 MDL100907.

To elucidate the potential roles of presynaptic and postsynaptic serotonergic activity in impulsivity traits, we investigated the relationship between self-reported impulsiveness and serotonin transporter (5-HTT) and 5-HT2A receptors in healthy individuals. In this study, 26 participants completed 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography with [C]DASB and [C]MDL100907. To quantify 5-HTT and 5-HT2A receptor availability, the binding potential (BP) of [C]DASB and [C]MDL100907 was derived using the simplified reference tissue model with cerebellar gray matter as the reference region.

Harnessing the Power of Machine Learning Guided Discovery of NLRP3 Inhibitors Towards the Effective Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

The NLRP3 inflammasome, plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by activating inflammatory cytokines such as IL1β and IL18. Targeting NLRP3 has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for RA. In this study, a multidisciplinary approach combining machine learning, quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) modeling, structure-activity landscape index (SALI), docking, molecular dynamics (MD), and molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area MM/PBSA assays was employed to identify novel NLRP3 inhibitors.

Exploring the therapeutic potential of natural compounds against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): a computational approach.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth leading cause of cancer related deaths globally. Despite advancements in treatment, drug resistance and adverse side effects have spurred the search for novel therapeutic strategies. This study aimed to investigate how the can inhibit key targets involved in HCC progression.

The effect of treadmill exercise on memory function and gut microbiota composition in old rats.

Aging is associated with declines in memory function and significant change in gut microbiota. In this study, we investigated how exercise affects age-related memory decline and inflammation, and gut microbiota diversity. Bl6 mice were divided into control, control and exercise, old, and old and exercise groups.

Ocular Injuries in Patients with Old Blow-out Fractures Following Blunt Trauma.

Purpose: To analyze the frequency, and clinical characteristics of ocular injuries in patients with prior blow-out fractures who experience new blunt trauma, and to assess whether old orbital fractures provide a protective effect against subsequent ocular trauma.

Methods: The medical records of 1,315 ocular trauma patients were reviewed. A total of 927 patients who had orbital or facial CT scans and ophthalmologist evaluations were considered.

Modulating vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype via Wnt-Independent FRZB pathways.

Background And Aims: Vascular smooth muscle cells are pivotal in atherosclerosis, transitioning from a contractile to a synthetic phenotype, which is associated with increased proliferation and inflammation. FRZB, a Wnt signaling modulator, has been implicated in vascular pathology, but its specific role in vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype modulation is not well understood. This study investigates the role of FRZB in regulating vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypes.

enhancement of CD8+ T cell activity using functionalized hydrogel encapsulating tonsil-derived lymphatic endothelial cells.

This study investigates a method for programming immune cells using a biomaterial-based system, providing an alternative to traditional cell manipulation techniques. It addresses the limitations of engineered adoptive T cell therapies, such as T cell exhaustion, by introducing a gelatin-hyaluronic acid (GH-GMA) hydrogel system. We characterized tonsil mesenchymal stem cells (TMSCs), lymphatic endothelial cells (T-LECs), stimulated T-CD8 T cells (STCs), and GH-GMA biomaterials.