Therapeutic potential of anti-ErbB3 chimeric antigen receptor natural killer cells against breast cancer.

ErbB3 is markedly overexpressed in breast cancer cells and is associated with resistance and metastasis. Additionally, ErbB3 expression levels are positively correlated with low densities of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, a marker of poor prognosis. Consequently, ErbB3 is a promising therapeutic target for cancer immunotherapy.

Limitations of a proper SFTSV mouse model using human C-type lectin receptors.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is a tick-borne virus with a human mortality rate of up to 30%, posing a significant threat to public health. However, the lack of suitable research models has impeded the development of effective human vaccines. In this study, we engineered transgenic mice (3xTg) using a novel construct that simultaneously expresses three C-type Lectin receptors, identified as critical SFTSV entry receptors.

Portulaca oleracea Extract Ameliorates Testosterone Propionate-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Male Sprague-Dawley Rats.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a distressing health problem that can cause serious complications in aging men. Androgens are implicated in the causation of BPH. Portulaca oleracea (PO) is a natural product with diverse pharmacological effects.

Impact of plasma discharge pressure on implant surface properties and osteoblast activities in vacuum-assisted plasma treatment.

Nonthermal plasma has been extensively utilized in various biomedical fields, including surface engineering of medical implants to enhance their biocompatibility and osseointegration. To ensure robustness and cost effectiveness for commercial viability, stable and effective plasma is required, which can be achieved by reducing gas pressure in a controlled volume. Here, we explored the impact of reduced gas pressure on plasma properties, surface characteristics of plasma-treated implants, and subsequent biological outcomes.

Neurotoxic effects of citronellol induced by the conversion of kynurenine to 3-hydroxykynurenine.

Citronellol is widely utilized in consumer products, including cosmetics, fragrances, and household items. However, despite being considered a relatively safe chemical, the health effects and toxicity mechanisms associated with exposure to high concentrations of citronellol, based on product content, remain inadequately understood. Here, we aimed to analyze the neurological effects of citronellol in zebrafish larvae using behavioral and histological analyses and elucidate the mechanisms underlying its neurotoxicity in vivo.

Optimizing adult-oriented artificial intelligence for pediatric chest radiographs by adjusting operating points.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the optimal operating points of adult-oriented artificial intelligence (AI) software differ for pediatric chest radiographs and to assess its diagnostic performance. Chest radiographs from patients under 19 years old, collected between March and November 2021, were divided into test and exploring sets. A commercial adult-oriented AI software was utilized to detect lung lesions, including pneumothorax, consolidation, nodule, and pleural effusion, using a standard operating point of 15%.

Association of higher potency statin use with risk of osteoporosis and fractures in patients with stroke in a Korean nationwide cohort study.

This population-based cohort study aimed to evaluate the risk of osteoporosis and fractures associated with higher-potency statin use compared to lower-potency statin use in patients with stroke, using data from the Health Insurance and Review Assessment database of South Korea (2010-2019). Patients who received statin within 30 days after hospitalization for a new-onset stroke (n = 276,911) were divided into higher-potency (n = 212,215, 76.6%) or lower-potency (n = 64,696, 23.

A Network Analysis of Quality of Life Among Older Adults With Arthritis.

Introduction: Arthritis, one of the most common chronic diseases among older people, greatly impairs quality of life through a variety of physical and psychological challenges. This study used network analysis to gain a deeper understanding of the relationships between the indicators of quality of life in older adults with arthritis depending on duration of disease.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from 874 older adults with osteoarthritis and/or rheumatoid arthritis who answered the eighth (2019-2021) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Comparison of bioelectrical impedance analysis and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for the diagnosis of sarcopenia in the older adults with metabolic syndrome: equipment-specific equation development.

Objective: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and sarcopenia together pose significant health risks, increasing frailty, falls, and fractures in older adults. This study compared muscle mass measurements obtained using two different dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) machines and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and evaluated the accuracy of these measurements in these older adults.

Methods: In this prospective multicenter cohort study, patients aged ≥ 65 years with MetS had their muscle mass assessed using both BIA and DXA.

Comparison of preference-based health-related quality of life measures for chronic neck pain: a pooled analysis of data from three RCTs.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify a preference-based health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measure that best reflects disease-specific features in patients with neck pain by comparing the characteristics of the instruments.

Design: Pooled data from three multicentre randomised controlled clinical trials (RCTs) on neck pain were included for analysis in this study.

Setting: All three RCTs were conducted between 2017 and 2020 in Korea, and patients were recruited from four hospitals and one university teaching hospital.

Indole-3-carbinol alleviates allergic skin inflammation via periostin/thymic stromal lymphopoietin suppression in atopic dermatitis.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic multifactorial inflammatory skin disorder with a complex etiology. Despite its increasing prevalence, treatment of AD is still limited. Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) is found in cruciferous vegetables and is formed when these vegetables are cut, chewed, or cooked; it exerts diverse pharmacological activities.

Validity and reliability of the integrated palliative care outcome scale (IPOS) in Korea: a multicenter study of terminally ill cancer patients.

Background: The Integrated Palliative care Outcome Scale (IPOS) is a key tool for assessing the quality of palliative care using patient-reported outcomes. This study aimed to culturally adapt and translate the IPOS to Korean and verify its psychometric properties for use in palliative care settings.

Methods: The IPOS was translated and culturally adapted, followed by validation in 119 terminally ill cancer patients and 28 healthcare providers across six Hospice and Palliative Care Units from September 2023 to January 2024.

Cell-free DNA methylation-based inflammation score as a marker for hepatocellular carcinoma among people living with HIV.

Background: People living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at a greater risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), potentially due to the stimulation of inflammation by HIV infection. Inflammation-related DNA methylation signatures obtained in liquid biopsy, such as circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA), may serve as promising minimally invasive biomarkers that can inform diagnosis of HCC.

Methods: Using data from 249 individuals with HIV (114 individuals with normal liver conditions, 69 with fibrosis, 30 with cirrhosis, and 36 with HCC), we constructed a cfDNA methylation-based inflammation score (inflammation-DNAm score) based on 54 CpGs previously associated with circulating C-reactive protein concentrations.

LINC02257 regulates malignant phenotypes of colorectal cancer via interacting with miR-1273g-3p and YB1.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer diagnosed and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Emerging evidence has indicated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the progression of various types of cancer. In this study, we aimed to identify potential causal lncRNAs in CRC through comprehensive multilevel bioinformatics analyses, coupled with functional validation.

A critical review on the symbiotic effect of bacteria and microalgae on treatment of sewage with biofertilizer production.

Wastes like sewage, kitchen and industrial are the major sources of environmental pollution and health hazards. Sewage contains 99.9% water and 0.

A Machine Learning Model to Predict De Novo Hepatocellular Carcinoma Beyond Year 5 of Antiviral Therapy in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B.

Background And Aims: This study aims to develop and validate a machine learning (ML) model predicting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients after the first 5 years of entecavir (ETV) or tenofovir (TFV) therapy.

Methods: CHB patients treated with ETV/TFV for > 5 years and not diagnosed with HCC during the first 5 years of therapy were selected from two hospitals. We used 36 variables, including baseline characteristics (age, sex, cirrhosis, and type of antiviral agent) and laboratory values (at baseline, at 5 years, and changes between 5 years) for model development.

Trends in nationwide incidence of uveitis in South Korea using the National Health Insurance claims database from 2010 to 2021.

Objectives: To investigate the population-based incidence of uveitis and the differences between anterior and non-anterior uveitis using the comprehensive Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database.

Methods: We extracted data of patients who visited the clinic and were diagnosed with uveitis (based on Korean Classification of Diseases) from 2010 to 2021. The incidence of uveitis, differences between the demographics, and the underlying co-morbidities of anterior uveitis, non-anterior uveitis, and control groups were investigated.

The Probiotics , , and Enhance Spermatozoa Motility Through Mitochondrial Function-Related Factors.

Idiopathic male infertility is characterized by increased mortality or reduced motility and vitality of sperm. There are several reports on probiotics in the male reproductive tract, but the effects of these probiotics on sperm motility remain to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the impact and mechanism of probiotics on the vitality and motility of mouse sperm.

Changes in Gene Expression Related to Atopic Dermatitis in Mothers and Infants Following VOC Exposure.

Environmental pollutants, particularly volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are associated with various diseases, including atopic dermatitis (AD). However, despite numerous studies on AD, there is a lack of research on the impact of various environmental exposures on mothers and infants. This study, therefore, investigated the effects of maternal exposure to specific VOCs (toluene, xylene, and benzene) on the expression of AD-related genes in mothers and their infants.

Anti-Obesity Effects of Water Extract on 3T3-L1 Adipocytes and High-Fat-Diet-Induced Obese Mice.

This study offers promising insights into the anti-obesity potential an edible mushroom valued in Asian cuisine for its nutritional benefits. A hot water extract of (PWE) administered to high-fat diet-induced obese mice over an 8-week period significantly reduced their body weight gain and fat accumulation. PWE not only improved the body weight metrics but also positively influenced the serum lipid profile of obese mice by lowering their total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.

Epiretinal Membrane: Correlations Among Clinical, Immunohistochemical, and Biochemical Features and Their Prognostic Implications.

Purpose: To investigate correlations among clinical, immunohistochemical, and biochemical characteristics of epiretinal membranes (ERMs) and their prognostic implications.

Methods: This prospective study included 120 patients with idiopathic ERM who underwent vitrectomy. Preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were measured.

Effects of long-term treatment with low concentration butylparaben on prostate organoids.

Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), such as butylparaben (BP), which are used as preservatives in food and cosmetics, have been shown to negatively affect male reproductive health. Organs under the control of hormones such as androgens and estrogens, such as the prostate, are vulnerable to EDC stimulation. It is well known that BP can cause hormonal imbalances in the prostate and lead to various prostate diseases.

Ocular Adverse Events Following Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection: A Self-controlled Case Series Study from the Entire Korean Population.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the risk of ocular adverse events, including retinal artery occlusion (RAO), retinal vein occlusion (RVO), noninfectious uveitis (NIU), noninfectious scleritis (NIS), optic neuritis (ON), ischemic optic neuropathy (ION), and ocular motor cranial nerve palsy (OMCNP), after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection.

Design: Population-based self-controlled case series (SCCS).

Participants: The study included patients from the entire Korean population of 52 million who experienced incident RAO, RVO, anterior NIU, nonanterior NIU, NIS, ON, ION, or OMCNP between January 1, 2021, and October 29, 2022.