Molecular characterization and antibiotic resistance of strains isolated from patients with diarrhea in Korea between the years 2007 and 2022.

Unlabelled: To investigate the molecular characteristics and antibiotic resistance of isolates from patients with diarrhea in Korea, 327 strains were collected between 2007 and 2022. The presence of staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) genes in isolates was determined by PCR. The highest expression of the TSST-1 gene was found in the GIMNO type (43.

Korea Nurses' Health Study and the health of reproductive-aged women: a cohort profile.

The Korea Nurses' Health Study (KNHS) is an ongoing, large-scale, prospective cohort study of women nurses, focusing on the effects of occupational, environmental, and lifestyle factors on the health of women. The first KNHS survey was performed in 2013-2014 (n=20,613). As of December 2023, 11 follow-up surveys have been conducted.

Rottlerin Enhances the Autophagic Degradation of Phosphorylated Tau in Neuronal Cells.

Intra-neuronal accumulation of hyper-phosphorylated tau as neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). To prevent the aggregation of phosphorylated tau in neurons, decreasing the phosphorylated tau protein levels is important. Here, we examined the biological effects of rottlerin, a phytochemical compound extracted from the Kamala tree, Mallotus philippinensis, on phosphorylated tau levels.

KSCBi005-A-10(hiPSC-HIF1αKO), a HIF1α knockout human induced pluripotent stem cell line, for demonstrating the role of cellular response to hypoxia.

Under hypoxia, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 regulates hypoxia-inducible genes, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors VEGFR1 and VEGFR2. It is an oxygen-dependent transcriptional activator that plays a crucial role in tumor angiogenesis and mammalian embryo development. It is a heterodimeric protein comprising a constitutively expressed HIF-1β subunit and the highly regulated HIF-1α subunits.

Differential beta-coronavirus infection dynamics in human bronchial epithelial organoids.

The lower respiratory system serves as the target and barrier for beta-coronavirus (beta-CoV) infections. In this study, we explored beta-CoV infection dynamics in human bronchial epithelial (HBE) organoids, focusing on HCoV-OC43, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2. Utilizing advanced organoid culture techniques, we observed robust replication for all beta-CoVs, particularly noting that SARS-CoV-2 reached peak viral RNA levels at 72 h postinfection.

Nutrition survey methods and food composition database update of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study.

This study presents the nutrition survey methods and the updated food composition database for the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES). The KoGES, which is the largest and longest cohort study in Korea, aims to identify genetic and environmental factors associated with chronic diseases. This study has collected dietary data using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and/or the 24-hour recall method.

Associations of meal timing and sleep duration with incidence of obesity: a prospective cohort study.

Objectives: Late mealtime and short sleep are known to be associated with obesity risk due to a misaligned circadian rhythm. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between obesity and mealtime and sleep duration using the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) data.

Design: Longitudinally prospective cohort study.

Assessment of the Impact of Preanalytical DNA Integrity on the Genome Data Quality.

Many molecular approaches have been employed for the quality control (QC) of biobanked DNA samples. Since 2003, the National Biobank of Korea (NBK) has provided various studies with over half a million quality-controlled genomic DNA samples using conventional agarose gel electrophoresis and spectrophotometry. We assessed the postanalytical genomic data quality of DNA samples ( = 41) with a different range of the DNA quality index such as genomic quality number (GQN) for developing an evidence-based best practice for DNA quality criteria.

A new DNA aptamer which binds to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and reduces pro-inflammatory response.

COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 spread rapidly around the world, endangering the health of people globally. The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein initiates entry into target cells by binding to human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). In this study, we developed DNA aptamers that specifically bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, thereby inhibiting its binding to ACE2.

Identification of Short-Chain Fatty Acids for Predicting Preterm Birth in Cervicovaginal Fluid Using Mass Spectrometry.

Preterm birth (PTB) refers to delivery before 37 weeks of gestation. Premature neonates exhibit higher neonatal morbidity and mortality rates than term neonates; therefore, predicting and preventing PTB are important. In this study, we investigated the potential of using short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels, specific vaginal microbiota-derived metabolites, as a biomarker in predicting PTB using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Association between short-term exposure to ambient air pollutants and biomarkers indicative of inflammation and oxidative stress: a cross-sectional study using KoGES-HEXA data.

Background: Air pollution-induced systemic inflammation and oxidative stress are hypothesized to be the major biological mechanisms underlying pathological outcomes. We examined the association between short-term exposure to ambient air pollutants and biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in 2199 general middle-aged Korean population residing in metropolitan areas.

Methods: Serum levels of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α) and urinary levels of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were measured.

Risk factors for critical COVID-19 illness during Delta- and Omicron-predominant period in Korea; using K-COV-N cohort in the National health insurance service.

Background: This study evaluated the clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 in Korea, and examined the relationship between severe COVID-19 cases and underlying health conditions during the Delta (September 20, 2021 to December 4, 2021) and the Omicron (February 20, 2022 to March 31, 2022) predominant period.

Methods: This study assessed the association between critical COVID-19 illness and various risk factors, including a variety of underlying health conditions, using multiple logistic regression models based on the K-COV-N cohort, a nationwide data of confirmed COVID-19 cases linked with COVID-19 vaccination status and the National Health Insurance claim information.

Results: We analyzed 137,532 and 8,294,249 cases of COVID-19 infection during the Delta and the Omicron variant dominant periods, respectively.

Associations of resistance training levels with low muscle mass: a nationwide cross-sectional study in Korea.

Background: Low muscle mass is associated with adverse health outcomes such as functional decline and all-cause mortality. This study investigated the relationship between the risk of low muscle mass and the training period and/or frequency of resistance training (RT).

Methods: We included 126,339 participants (81,263 women) from nationwide cohorts in Korea.

Generation of an induced pluripotent stem cell line (KNIHi001-A) by reprogramming peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from a patient with Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative brain disorder characterized by dopamine neuronal degeneration and dopamine transporter loss. In this study, we generated an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line, KNIHi001-A, from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of a 76-year-old man with Parkinson's disease. The non-integrating Sendai virus was used to reprogram iPSCs.

Molecular detection of Borrelia theileri in cattle in Korea.

Bovine borreliosis, caused by Borrelia theileri which is transmitted via hard tick bites, is associated with mild clinical symptoms, such as fever, lethargy, hemoglobinuria, anorexia, and anemia. Borrelia theileri infects various animals, such as cattle, deer, horses, goats, sheep, and wild ruminants, in Africa, Australia, and South America. Notably, no case of B.

Correction: Park et al. Effect of Particulate Matter 2.5 on Fetal Growth in Male and Preterm Infants through Oxidative Stress. 2023, , 1916.

In the original publication [...

Diesel exhaust particle exposure exacerbates ciliary and epithelial barrier dysfunction in the multiciliated bronchial epithelium models.

Airway epithelium, the first defense barrier of the respiratory system, facilitates mucociliary clearance against inflammatory stimuli, such as pathogens and particulates inhaled into the airway and lung. Inhaled particulate matter 2.5 (PM) can penetrate the alveolar region of the lung, and it can develop and exacerbate respiratory diseases.

HPV vaccination status and effectiveness in Korean women with HPV16/18 infection (2010-2021): a retrospective study.

Objective: To evaluate human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine effectiveness in a cohort of Korean women infected with HPV.

Methods: From 2010 to 2021, Korean women aged 20-60 years who diagnosed HPV-positive atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance or low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion were recruited from 6 hospitals. HPV vaccine effectiveness was estimated by observing the differences in pathological and clinical information and experimental results-prevalence, viral load (VL), physical state (PS), and HPV16/18 infection duration-between the vaccinated and unvaccinated groups.

Temporal Changes in Resting Heart Rate and Risk of Diabetes Mellitus.

Backgruound: To investigate the association between the time-varying resting heart rate (RHR) and change in RHR (∆RHR) over time and the risk of diabetes mellitus (DM) by sex.

Methods: We assessed 8,392 participants without DM or atrial fibrillation/flutter from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study, a community-based prospective cohort study that was initiated in 2001 to 2002. The participants were followed up until December 31, 2018.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns and Genetic Diversity of spp. Isolates from Patients with Diarrhea in South Korea.

This study aimed to characterize the latest antimicrobial resistance patterns and genetic diversity of spp. isolated from patients with acute diarrhea in Korea. In total, 371 clinical isolates (361 and 10 ) were collected from patients with diarrhea in 106 medical institutions of six provinces during the seasonal peak (April-September 2022) in South Korea.

A novel Mycobacterium Tuberculosis antigen, MTB48 enhances inflammatory response in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophage immune cells.

Mtb (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) is a pathogenic bacterium that causes tuberculosis infection (TB). Mtb-secreted proteins have recently been investigated as virulence factors, as well as therapeutic and vaccine possibilities. The early-secreted antigen target MTB48 is one of these proteins that has been explored as a cocktail antigen in the serodiagnosis of active tuberculosis.