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.

Dynamic control of the plasmid copy number maintained without antibiotics in Escherichia coli.

Background: Manipulating the gene expression is the key strategy to optimize the metabolic flux. Not only transcription, translation, and post-translation level control, but also the dynamic plasmid copy number (PCN) control has been studied. The dynamic PCN control systems that have been developed to date are based on the understanding of origin replication mechanisms, which limits their application to specific origins of replication and requires the use of antibiotics for plasmid maintenance.

Release-modulating mechanism and comparative pharmacokinetics in beagle dogs of bethanechol-loaded oral dosage forms.

Bethanechol chloride (BTC), a quaternary ammonium compound used in bladder dysfunction treatment, requires challenges in developing optimal oral dosage forms due to its high water-solubility, short half-life, rapid elimination and four times a day administration. The aim of this study was to develop optimal BTC-loaded oral dosage forms that could provide both rapid onset and sustained therapeutic effects while reducing the frequency of conventional four-times-daily dosing (Mytonin® tablets). Four different BTC-loaded oral dosage forms were designed including gastro-retentive tablet (GRT), controlled-release tablet (CRT), bilayer tablet (BLT), and tablet-in-tablet (TIT).

End-of-life Care, Comfort Care, and Hospice: Terms and Concepts.

Purpose: This study aims to clarify and standardize the terms and concepts associated with end-of-life care, specifically within the contexts of hospice and palliative care.

Methods: We reviewed references pertaining to hospice and palliative care, including definitions of end-of-life care and comfort care. Two meetings were held with members of the medical terminology committee of the Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care, along with experts in the field, to establish a consensus on the terms used.

C-Peptide Ameliorates Particulate Matter 2.5-Induced Skin Cell Apoptosis by Inhibiting NADPH Oxidation.

Connecting peptide (C-peptide), a byproduct of insulin biosynthesis, has diverse cellular and biological functions. Particulate matter 2.5 (PM) adversely affects human skin, leading to skin thickening, wrinkle formation, skin aging, and inflammation.

Genetic Foundation of Leaf Senescence: Insights from Natural and Cultivated Plant Diversity.

Leaf senescence, the final stage of leaf development, is crucial for plant fitness as it enhances nutrient reutilization, supporting reproductive success and overall plant adaptation. Understanding its molecular and genetic regulation is essential to improve crop resilience and productivity, particularly in the face of global climate change. This review explores the significant contributions of natural genetic diversity to our understanding of leaf senescence, focusing on insights from model plants and major crops.

Comparative Analysis of Phytochemical and Functional Profiles of Arabica Coffee Leaves and Green Beans Across Different Cultivars.

This study analyzed the phytochemical composition and functional properties of leaves and green beans from seven Arabica coffee cultivars. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were measured using spectrophotometric methods, while caffeine, chlorogenic acid (CGA), and mangiferin levels were quantified via High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Volatile compounds were identified using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS).

Persistent Photoinduced Antibacterial Activity of MoS Nanosheets Immobilized in Porous Polymer Beads.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) photogenerated by two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials provide a means of delivering persistent antibacterial activity in fluid media. Semiconducting molybdenum disulfide (MoS) nanosheets are an attractive option for exploiting such activity by using visible light. However, the tendency of MoS nanosheets in suspension to restack or otherwise aggregate remains a critical obstacle, as it results in the loss of the desired photoactivity.

Exploring the immunological functions of thioredoxin domain-containing protein 17 (TXNDC17) in chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus): Immune response and cellular redox homeostasis.

All organisms have evolved sophisticated antioxidant networks and enzymes to counteract reactive radicals, among which thioredoxin (Trx) systems are especially noteworthy. Thioredoxin domain-containing protein 17 (TXNDC17) is a ubiquitously expressed enzyme with oxidoreductase activity belonging to the Trx protein family. This study successfully uncovered and analyzed the TXNDC17 gene in Scomber japonicus (SjTXNDC17).

Polyphenol extract from Tagetes erecta L. flowers stimulates osteogenesis via β-catenin activation.

Background: Osteoporosis, a prevalent bone disorder, results in reduced bone mineral density and mass. With minimal side effects, medicinal plant-based natural remedies are increasingly explored for osteoporosis. However, the osteogenic potential of Tagetes erecta L.

Effects on lethal concentration 50 % hematological parameters and plasma components of Starry flounder, Platichthys stellatus exposed to hexavalent chromium.

Starry flounders (Platichthys stellatus, mean weight 105 ± 14 g, mean total length 20.2 ± 0.7 cm) were exposed to hexavalent chromium concentrations of 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg Cr/L for 96 hours.

Draft genome sequence of LHWP2 isolated from dead ark clam revealing potential nitrogen metabolism pathways.

We present the draft genome sequence of LHWP2, a notable member of the Planctomycetes-Verrucomicrobia-Chlamydiae group, isolated from a dead ark clam. The 6,211,343-bp genome contains 5,304 coding gene sequences with a guanine-cytosine content of 56.5 %.

Efficient state of charge estimation in electric vehicles batteries based on the extra tree regressor: A data-driven approach.

Global warming, a significant outcome of climate change, exerts detrimental effects on the daily lives of individuals and industries. As a result, there is an increased demand for Electric Vehicles (EVs) to reduce carbon emissions contributing to climate change. This shift underscores the critical need for accurate estimation of the State of Charge (SoC) in battery systems, which is essential for optimizing EVs' performance and ensuring effective energy utilization.

Characterization of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) in red-spotted grouper (Epinephelus akaara): In vivo and in vitro investigation of its role in the regulation of antiviral immunity and cell death.

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) is a key adaptor molecule in tumor necrosis factor receptor signaling complexes, facilitating downstream immune-related signaling cascades. This study aimed to elucidate its function in teleost fish by characterizing the TRAF2 homolog of the red-spotted grouper (Epinephelus akaara, EaTraf2). The open reading frame of EaTraf2 encodes a putative protein of 520 amino acids, containing several characteristic domains of TRAF2.

Co-treatment with melatonin and ortho-topolin riboside exhibits anti-proliferation activity in radioresistant MDA-MB-231 cells by altering metabolic and transcriptomic profiles.

Radiation therapy represents the primary treatment option for triple-negative breast cancer. However, radio resistance is associated with a poor prognosis and an increased risk of recurrence. Radioresistant MDA-MB-231 cells, a radioresistant triple-negative breast cancer cell line, were co-treated with ortho-topolin riboside and melatonin.

Insufficient Diagnostic Value of Serum Galactomannan and (1,3)-β-D-Glucan in Paranasal Sinus Fungus Balls.

Background And Objectives: The serum galactomannan test (GM test) and the (1,3)-β-D-glucan test (G test) are utilized in diagnosing invasive fungal sinusitis. However, their effectiveness in detecting paranasal sinus fungus balls (FBs) has not been established. This study aimed to explore their diagnostic value in patients with FBs.

Esophageal ILC2s mediate abnormal epithelial remodeling in eosinophilic esophagitis via Areg-EGFR signaling.

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic allergic disorder characterized by eosinophilia and epithelial thickening, resulting in dysphagia. While emerging evidence implicates increased frequencies of group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) and increased interleukin (IL)-33 expression in EoE pathogenesis, the precise mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of ILC2s in EoE pathogenesis.

Development of a sulfidized zerovalent iron-geopolymer composite for the reductive immobilization of ReO.

A geopolymer waste form has become a suitable approach for the immobilization of the volatile technetium (Tc) due to the low curing temperature (<60 °C). However, the low retention and the high mobility of the anionic technetium (TcO) remain challenging due to the charge repulsion stemming from the negative charges of the geopolymer surface and the anionic TcO. Herein, a geopolymer composite containing sulfidized nanoscale zerovalent iron (S-nZVI) was developed to reductively immobilize ReO (used as a non-radioactive surrogate for TcO).

alleviates testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia by inhibiting 5α-reductase activity and androgen receptor signaling pathway.

Background/objectives: Recently, herbal medicines have gained attention for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a common disease in elderly men. In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of ethanol extract of (EAR), which is traditionally used to treat various diseases, on BPH development using a testosterone-induced BPH model.

Materials/methods: Testosterone propionate (TP)-treated Sprague-Dawley rats were used to establish a BPH model .

A taxonomic review of Thiotricha Meyrick, 1886 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae, Thiotrichinae) from China, with descriptions of 84 new species.

Thiotricha Meyrick, 1886 is a large and morphologically diverse genus in the subfamily Thiotrichinae of the family Gelechiidae. The distribution is mainly concentrated in the Old World, but only 14 species were previously known in China. In this study, we reviewed Chinese Thiotricha and examined related species distributed in Korea, Japan, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Urban aerosol particulate matter promotes cellular senescence through mitochondrial ROS-mediated Akt/Nrf2 downregulation in human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Urban aerosol particulate matter (UPM) is widespread in the environment, and its concentration continues to increase. Several recent studies have reported that UPM results in premature cellular senescence, but few studies have investigated the molecular basis of UPM-induced senescence in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. In this study, we primarily evaluated UPM-induced premature senescence and the protective function of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in human RPE ARPE-19 cells.

Discontinuation of β-blocker therapy in stabilised patients after acute myocardial infarction (SMART-DECISION): rationale and design of the randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: There is a lack of evidence to support the effectiveness of prolonged β-blocker therapy after stabilisation of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) without heart failure (HF) or left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Methods And Analysis: The SMart Angioplasty Research Team: DEcision on Medical Therapy in Patients with Coronary Artery DIsease or Structural Heart Disease Undergoing InterventiON (SMART-DECISION) trial is a multicentre, prospective, open-label, randomised, non-inferiority trial designed to determine whether discontinuing β-blocker therapy after ≥1 year of maintenance in stabilised patients after AMI is non-inferior to continuing it. Patients eligible for participation are those without HF or left ventricular systolic dysfunction (ejection fraction >40%) who have been continuing β-blocker therapy for ≥1 year after AMI.