Deciphering the toxic effects of polystyrene nanoparticles on erythropoiesis at single-cell resolution.

Polystyrene nanoparticles pose significant toxicological risks to aquatic ecosystems, yet their impact on zebrafish ( ) embryonic development, particularly erythropoiesis, remains underexplored. This study used single-cell RNA sequencing to comprehensively evaluate the effects of polystyrene nanoparticle exposure on erythropoiesis in zebrafish embryos. validation experiments corroborated the transcriptomic findings, revealing that polystyrene nanoparticle exposure disrupted erythrocyte differentiation, as evidenced by the decrease in mature erythrocytes and concomitant increase in immature erythrocytes.

Angular hypertrophied epiphysis of the thumb distal phalanx in radial polydactyly.

In a series of 271 consecutive duplicated thumbs, an angular, hypertrophied epiphysis was detected in 13 thumbs. We propose a revised version of the radial polydactyly classification that includes this pattern as a separate type from triphalangeal thumb.

Hematologic and clinical chemistry reference intervals for six species of wild birds frequently rescued in the Republic of Korea.

Objective: Reference intervals for hematologic and clinical chemistry values are useful when diagnosing a pathologic condition in animals. This study establishes relevant reference intervals for six species of wild birds that are frequently rescued at wildlife rescue centers in the Republic of Korea.

Methods: Forty-two Eurasian eagle owls (), 34 Oriental turtle doves (), 73 domestic pigeons (), 27 brown hawk-owls (), 76 common kestrels (), and 25 Eurasian magpies () were included in this study.

The N17 domain of huntingtin as a multifaceted player in Huntington's disease.

Huntington's disease (HD) is primarily caused by the aberrant aggregation of the N-terminal exon 1 fragment of mutant huntingtin protein (mHttex1) with expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) repeats in neurons. The first 17 amino acids of the N-terminus of Httex1 (N17 domain) immediately preceding the polyQ repeat domain are evolutionarily conserved across vertebrates and play multifaceted roles in the pathogenesis of HD. Due to its amphipathic helical properties, the N17 domain, both alone and when membrane-associated, promotes mHttEx1 aggregation.

Transformer-based model for predicting length of stay in intensive care unit in sepsis patients.

Introduction: Sepsis, a life-threatening condition with a high mortality rate, requires intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The increasing hospitalization rate for patients with sepsis has escalated medical costs due to the strain on ICU resources. Efficient management of ICU resources is critical to addressing this challenge.

L. (purslane) extract ameliorates intestinal inflammation in diet-induced obese mice by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Background: L. (purslane) is a dietary plant and a botanical drug with antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the effects of purslane against intestinal-inflammation-associated obesity are yet to be studied.

Identify biological Alzheimer's disease using a novel nucleic acid-linked protein immunoassay.

Blood-based biomarkers have been revolutionizing the detection, diagnosis and screening of Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, phosphorylated-tau variants (p-tau, p-tau and p-tau) are promising biomarkers for identifying Alzheimer's disease pathology. Antibody-based assays such as single molecule arrays immunoassays are powerful tools to investigate pathological changes indicated by blood-based biomarkers and have been studied extensively in the Alzheimer's disease research field.

Effectiveness of mobile mindfulness training on stress, burnout, and work engagement of office workers: protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Work stress has a detrimental impact on individual health and corporate efficiency and productivity. Mindfulness reduces workers' stress and burnout and increases work engagement and performance. Smartphone-based interventions could be an alternative to provide customized training without geographical or economic constraints.

Fatty Acid Synthase (FASN) Inhibitors Suppress Metformin-Induced Fat Accumulation and Apoptosis in H4IIE Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells.

We previously reported that metformin, a widely prescribed antidiabetic drug, induces the accumulation of triglyceride (TG) together with the apoptotic death of H4IIE via AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. However, the effect of cytoplasmic fat accumulation on the growth of HCCs remains controversial. Herein, we investigated the effect of fatty acid synthase (FASN) inhibitors on the basal- or metformin-induced changes including the content of cytoplasmic TG and the viability of HCC cells.

is Expressed on the Left Side of the Brain Vesicle in the Ascidian Larva.

The ascidian larvae, which display a chordate ground body plan, are left-right asymmetric in several structures, including the brain vesicle. In ascidian larvae, the ocellus and otolith pigment cells, which are thought to detect light and gravity respectively, are located on the right side of the brain vesicle, while the coronet cells, which are presumed to be dopaminergic, are located on the left side. To study how left-right asymmetry of the brain vesicle in the ascidian larva is determined, I attempted to isolate a gene that is expressed in the brain vesicle.

Expressional Alternation of 5α-Reductase Type I, P450 Aromatase, and Androgen and Estrogen Receptors in the Mouse Testis Induced by the Lipectomy of the Epididymal Fat at Different Postnatal Ages.

The epididymal fat is required for the maintenance of normal spermatogenesis, and the lipectomy of epididymal fat at different postnatal age results in disrupted expression patterns of several testicular steroidogenic enzymes. The current research examined the effect of epididymal fat lipectomy at different postnatal ages on expression of cytochrome 5α-reductase I, cytochrome P450 aromatase, androgen receptor (AR), and estrogen receptors (ER) α and β in the mouse testis after 2 weeks of the lipectomy. The lipectomy of epididymal fat at 2 months of postnatal age resulted in significant increases of expression levels of cytochrome 5α-reductase I, cytochrome P450 aromatase, AR, and ER α and β.

Zebrafish PEX1 Is Required for the Generation of GABAergic Neuron in p3 Domain.

Maintenance of neural progenitors requires Notch signaling in vertebrate development. Previous study has shown that Jagged2-mediated Notch signaling maintains proliferating neural progenitors in the ventral spinal cord. However, components for Jagged-mediated signaling remain poorly defined during late neurogenesis.

Development of Digestive Tract in Larval and Juvenile Red Spotted Grouper, .

This study investigated the progressive morphological alterations and digestive tract development in larval and juvenile red spotted grouper, across growth stages. External shape observations were made using an optical microscope, and the development of the digestive tract was investigated using histological methods. At 1 day after hatching (DAH), the digestive tract appeared as a straight tube extending between the ventral side and yolk-sac.

Effect of Different Regional Characteristics of Spawning and Growing Sites on Growth and Taste of Pacific Oyster, .

While Pacific oysters are important commercial aquaculture species worldwide, the effect of hormonal regulation and environmental conditions on growth and taste profile have not been fully known. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) systems are known to play a major role in regulating neuroendocrine functions across various physiological processes and are particularly involved in growth. IGFs expression also is directly related to the nutritional status of vertebrates, however, full mechanism has not been clearly identified in bivalves.

Signal Transduction of Constitutive Activating and Inactivating Eel Lutropin/Choriogonadotropin Receptor (Eel LH/CGR) Mutants by Recombinant Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin (Rec-eCG).

Lutropin/choriogonadotropin receptor (LH/CGR) is a member of the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily. LH/CGRs in fish and mammalian species have been reported to contain naturally occurring, constitutively activating, and inactivating mutations in highly conserved regions. The present study was designed to determine the functional aspect of eel LH/CGR signal transduction.

A new species of the genus Heylaerts, 1885 (Lepidoptera, Psychidae) from Korea with its natural parasitoid enemy.

Roh & Lee, is described as new to science. The morphology of male adult, including genitalia, is described, and DNA barcodes for precise identification of the species are provided. A parasitoid, Townsend, 1916 (Diptera, Tachinidae) of is also reported for the first time in Korea, together with its DNA barcode sequence.

Subtilases: a major prospect to the genome editing in horticultural crops.

Plant peptides, synthesized from larger precursor proteins, often undergo proteolytic cleavage and post-translational modifications to form active peptide hormones. This process involves several proteolytic enzymes (proteases). Among these, SBTs (serine proteases) are a major class of proteolytic enzymes in plants and play key roles in various regulatory mechanisms, including plant immune response, fruit development and ripening, modulating root growth, seed development and germination, and organ abscission.

Minimizing Surgical Margins in Basal Cell Carcinoma: A Single Institution's Experience with Excision and Reconstruction Methods.

 Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the predominant nonmelanocytic skin cancer, with preservation of both function and aesthetics being essential during tumor removal. Existing surgical margin guidelines primarily target ill-defined BCCs prevalent in Western countries. Therefore, this study aims to demonstrate the efficacy of surgical removal, propose modified guidelines for wide excision tailored to Asian patients, and share experiences with various reconstruction methods.

Hair Transplantation on the Baldness Region with Free Latissimus Dorsi Flap for Scalp Reconstruction: A Case Report.

Scalp reconstruction, particularly with complex defects and infection risks, often favors microvascular free flaps. However, this method can result in unavoidable alopecia and undesirable aesthetics. This report describes a novel case where hair transplantation via follicular unit extraction (FUE) was applied to a free myocutaneous flap.

"Pure Fat Flap"-Perforator-based Adiposal Layer Only Flap for Lateral Ankle Reconstruction.

Lateral ankle soft tissue defects pose challenges, especially in cases due to chronic pressure from cross-legged sitting, which usually present with a large dead space, small skin opening that often accompanies an open joint. Traditional reconstruction methods using fasciocutaneous flaps may result in donor site morbidity such as delayed wound healing or nerve injury. In this article, we present a case of diabetes-related lateral ankle defect successfully treated using adiposal layer only flap, also known as pure fat flap.

Malignant Pilomatricoma with Lung Metastases: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Malignant pilomatricoma, an extremely rare tumor arising from hair follicles, most commonly occurs on the head, neck, and back. This tumor exhibits several noteworthy characteristics. First, it frequently recurs if it is incompletely excised and can occasionally metastasize to the lungs, bones, and lymph nodes.

Enhanced production of ginsenoside compound K by synergistic conversion of fermentation with and commercial cellulase.

Fermentation of ginseng extract is limited by the low concentration of compound K (CK), a bioactive ginsenoside. In this study, a novel approach combining fermentation with cellulase conversion was used to enhance CK production from high concentrations of American ginseng extract (AGE). The reaction conditions, including the feeding rate and concentrations of carbon source, enzyme type, AGE and enzyme concentrations, temperature, pH, and timing of enzyme addition, were optimized.

A Novel Subspecies of Causing Leaf Spot in East Asian Hogweed.

During disease surveys in 2021 and 2022, outbreaks of leaf spot were observed in East Asian hogweed () plants in fields located in Pyeongchang and Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, Korea. The disease incidence in the fields ranged from 2% to 50%. Based on the morphological and cultural characteristics, four single-conidium fungal isolates from the leaf spot symptoms were identified as sp.

Effects of Blue Light on Fruiting Body Production and Ergothioneine Content During Sawdust Cultivation of Shiitake ().

The cultivation period of shiitake () is approximately 120-150 d, which is longer than that of other edible mushrooms. The development of fruiting bodies in shiitake is affected by light exposure. In this study, we investigated the effects of blue light on the production and ergothioneine contents of shiitake mushrooms.