Genetic associations of miRNA variants (miR-10a, miR-30c, miR-181a, miR-499b) with primary ovarian insufficiency in Korean women.

Objectives: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are pivotal in post-transcriptionally modulating gene expression in both animals and plants. This study investigates the relationship between microRNA polymorphisms and the occurrence of primary ovarian insufficiency in Korean women. Our hypothesis posits that polymorphisms in microRNAs-specifically miR-10aA > T, miR-30cA > G, miR-181aT > C, and miR-499bA > G-may be linked to primary ovarian insufficiency, influencing the risk of developing the condition.

Oral Bacillus subtilis spores-based vaccine for mass vaccination against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) poses a significant challenge in the global swine industry, leading to substantial economic losses and reproductive and respiratory complications. The causative agent, PRRS virus (PRRSV), with its high mutation rate, complicates the development of universally effective vaccines. Furthermore, current PRRS vaccines are limited by high costs and complex administration methods.

RNA Decay Assay: 5-Ethynyl-Uridine Labeling and Chasing.

Eukaryotic RNA synthesis and degradation are intricately regulated, impacting on gene expression dynamics. RNA stability varies in individual transcripts and is modulated by trans-acting factors such as microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, and RNA-binding proteins, which determine protein output and subsequent cellular processes. To measure RNA decay rate, accurate and reliable methodologies are essential in the field of RNA biology.

Association Between Toothbrushing Habits and Self-Rated Oral Health: Re-Consideration of the 3-3-3 Toothbrushing Campaign.

Objectives: This study investigates the association between toothbrushing frequency and self-rated oral health to evaluate the effectiveness of the 3-3-3 toothbrushing campaign.

Methods: Employing a cross-sectional study design, we analysed responses from 13,199 adults using structured questionnaires. The dependent variable was self-rated oral health.

Factors Associated with Dental Care Utilization for Oral Disease Prevention Among Adolescents in Multicultural Families in Republic of Korea.

Objectives: This study utilized data from the 2022 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey to examine the utilization of preventive dental care among adolescents from multicultural families and analyze the associated factors.

Methods: The number of adolescents from multicultural families, based on parental nationality, was 1361. The dependent variables were asymptomatic dental visits, sealant experience, and scaling experience.

Development of a novel strategy to reduce diagnostic errors in real-time polymerase chain reaction using probe-based techniques.

Real-time PCR assays are valuable tools for the rapid and accurate diagnosis of infectious diseases by identifying the nucleic acid sequences of pathogens. Here, we aimed to develop a recombinant plasmid-based standard for validating the sensitivity of different molecular diagnostic methods adopting the Jonstrup assay (J assay). Chimeric plasmid DNA (cpDNA) harboring various pathogen genes and the target site of the J assay was constructed.

Protective Effects of Extract against Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury.

Acetaminophen (APAP) is a well-known analgesic used globally. Generally, APAP has been proven to be safe and effective at therapeutic doses; however, it can cause serious liver damage when administered at high levels. We prepared extract (CFE) using the seaweed and confirmed that the CFE contains a substance called Loliolide with antioxidant activity.

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.

Development of Targeted Drug Delivery System for the Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 Using Aptamer-Conjugated Gold Nanoparticles.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has highlighted niclosamide (NIC) as a promising treatment for COVID-19. However, its clinical application is limited due to its poor water solubility, resulting in low bioavailability. To address this issue, we developed a AuNP-HA-NIC system, which combines gold nanoparticles with hyaluronic acid to enhance drug delivery.

PEP-1-PIN1 Promotes Hippocampal Neuronal Cell Survival by Inhibiting Cellular ROS and MAPK Phosphorylation.

The peptidyl-prolyl isomerase (PIN1) plays a vital role in cellular processes, including intracellular signaling and apoptosis. While oxidative stress is considered one of the primary mechanisms of pathogenesis in brain ischemic injury, the precise function of PIN1 in this disease remains to be elucidated. We constructed a cell-permeable PEP-1-PIN1 fusion protein and investigated PIN1's function in HT-22 hippocampal cells as well as in a brain ischemic injury gerbil model.

Photoimmunotherapy using indocyanine green-loaded Codium fragile polysaccharide and chitosan nanoparticles suppresses tumor growth and metastasis.

Metastasis and recurrence are the main challenges in cancer treatment. Among various therapeutic approaches, immunotherapy holds promise for preventing metastasis and recurrence. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of treating primary cancer and blocking metastasis and recurrence with photo-immunotherapeutic nanoparticles, which were synthesized using two types of charged polysaccharides.

PFKFB3 ameliorates ischemia-induced neuronal damage by reducing reactive oxygen species and inhibiting nuclear translocation of Cdk5.

The enzyme 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase (PFKFB) plays an essential role in glycolysis and in the antioxidant pathway associated with glutathione. Therefore, we investigated the effects of PFKFB3 on oxidative and ischemic damage. We synthesized a fusion protein of transactivator of transcription (Tat)-PFKFB3 to facilitate its passage into the intracellular space and examine its effects against oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide (HO) treatment and ischemic damage caused by occlusion of the common carotid arteries for 5 min in gerbils.

Candida albicans pathways that protect against organic peroxides and lipid peroxidation.

Human fungal pathogens must survive diverse reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by host immune cells that can oxidize a range of cellular molecules including proteins, lipids, and DNA. Formation of lipid radicals can be especially damaging, as it leads to a chain reaction of lipid peroxidation that causes widespread damage to the plasma membrane. Most previous studies on antioxidant pathways in fungal pathogens have been conducted with hydrogen peroxide, so the pathways used to combat organic peroxides and lipid peroxidation are not well understood.

Immunostimulatory Activity of a Mixture of , , , and in RAW264.7 Macrophages.

In this study, a mixture of , , , and (PPCRE) was investigated for their immuno-enhancing effects, as well as the molecular mechanism of PPCRE in RAW264.7 cells. PPCRE dramatically increased nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E (PGE) generation depending on the concentration while exhibiting no cytotoxicity.

Fruit and Germinated Soybean Embryo Complex Extract for Postmenopausal-Symptom Relief.

Background/objectives: Hormonal alterations during menopause result in substantial physiological changes. Although hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is widely used as a treatment strategy for these changes, its use remains controversial due to its associated risks. Plant isoflavones are phytoestrogens that are considered a potential alternative therapy for postmenopausal syndrome.

Cannabiorcol as a novel inhibitor of the p38/MSK-1/NF-κB signaling pathway, reducing matrix metalloproteinases in osteoarthritis.

Background: The bioactivity and potential medicinal applications of cannabiorcol, a lesser-known derivative of Cannabis sativa, require further investigation. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint condition marked by gradual degradation of the cartilage and commonly associated with elevated levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). However, the influence of cannabiorcol on OA and its underlying mechanisms remains unclear.

Using RS and GIS for risk management of natural disasters consequences: The case of cultural heritage in Jinan city, China.

The preservation of cultural heritage is confronted with significant challenges due to its extensive history and the increasing impact of climate change, particularly natural disasters. Instead of solely investing resources in post-disaster restoration efforts, implementing a proactive risk-management strategy for natural disasters is a more effective approach. This study introduces an analytical and evaluative methodology grounded in remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS) to bridge the existing gap in understanding natural disaster risks to cultural heritage sites in Jinan, China.

Multifunctional Sensors for Successive Detection of Endogenous ONOO and Mitochondrial Viscosity: Discriminating Normal to Cancer Models.

Diagnosing cancer in its early stages can play an important role in prolonging the lifespan of patients, which demands the use of powerful tools to detect biomarkers accurately. However, since most fluorescent probes described for cancer diagnosis are limited to recognizing a single molecule, achieving the high accuracy criteria remains difficult. Here, sensor is constructed for the sequential detection of , ONOO, and viscosity.

Fucoidan from Durvillaea Antarctica enhances the anti-cancer effect of anti-PD-L1 antibody by activating dendritic cells and T cells.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are showing groundbreaking results in tumor immunotherapy. However, there are cases where treatment efficiency is insufficient due to limitations in immune activity, and various trials to overcome this are being studied. In this study, we investigated the immune activation ability of fucoidan extracted from Durvillaea antarctica (FDA) and whether it can enhance the anti-cancer effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors.