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.

Epigenetic repression of CHCHD2 enhances survival from single cell dissociation through attenuated Rho A kinase activity.

During in vitro culture, human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) often acquire survival advantages characterized by decreased susceptibility to mitochondrial cell death, known as "culture adaptation." This adaptation is associated with genetic and epigenetic abnormalities, including TP53 mutations, copy number variations, trisomy, and methylation changes. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying this acquired survival advantage is crucial for safe hPSC-based cell therapies.

Generation of a CAG-EGFP tagged cell line (KSCBi017-A-2) from human induced pluripotent stem cells using CRISPR/Cas9.

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have potential use in regerenrative medicine for disease modeling and drug screening studies. The AAVS1 locus has been validated as a stable transgene expression and safe genomic location. Therefore, we inserted the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene into the AAVS1 locus of hiPSCs, using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing.

Folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine status in the Korean population: data from the 2013-2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the serum folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine status in Korean adolescents and adults using national data.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from participants aged ≥10 years in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2015. The stored serum samples were used to measure folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine concentrations.

Vitamin D ameliorates age-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by increasing the mitochondrial contact site and cristae organizing system (MICOS) 60 level.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease. Despite intensive research, considerable information on NAFLD development remains elusive. In this study, we examined the effects of vitamin D on age-induced NAFLD, especially in connection with mitochondrial abnormalities.

Propensity score matched analysis for the safety and effectiveness of remdesivir in COVID-19 patients with renal impairment.

Backgrounds: Remdesivir (RDV) is an antiviral agent approved for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, is not recommended for patients with renal impairment. Due to limitations associated with prospective clinical trials, real-world data on the safety and efficacy of RDV in patients with renal impairment are necessary.

Methods: Propensity score-matched (PSM) retrospective analysis was conducted between March 2020 and September 2022 in COVID-19 patients with an eGFR < 30 mL/min in four Korean hospitals.

Clinical utility of quantitative immunoassays and surrogate virus neutralization tests for predicting neutralizing activity against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 and BA.5 variants.

Developing new antibody assays for emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants is challenging. SARS-CoV-2 surrogate virus neutralization tests (sVNT) targeting Omicron BA.1 and BA.

Associations of Healthy Eating Behavior with Mental Health and Health-Related Quality of Life: Results from the Korean National Representative Survey.

Background: Healthy eating behaviors may be related to mental health and health-related quality of life. This study investigates the associations between diet quality, mental health, and health-related quality of life among men and women in Korea.

Methods: A total of 6823 participants, aged 19, from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2016 to 2018 were included.

Proteomic analysis reveals activation of platelet- and fibrosis-related pathways in hearts of ApoE mice exposed to diesel exhaust particles.

Air pollution is an environmental risk factor linked to multiple human diseases including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). While particulate matter (PM) emitted by diesel exhaust damages multiple organ systems, heart disease is one of the most severe pathologies affected by PM. However, the in vivo effects of diesel exhaust particles (DEP) on the heart and the molecular mechanisms of DEP-induced heart dysfunction have not been investigated.

The Association Between Antibody Responses and Prolonged Viable Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Shedding in Immunocompromised Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Immunocompromised patients with coronavirus disease 2019 were prospectively enrolled from March to November 2022 to understand the association between antibody responses and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 shedding. A total of 62 patients were analyzed, and the results indicated a faster decline in genomic and subgenomic viral RNA in patients with higher neutralizing and S1-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies (both P < .001).

Evolution of neutralizing antibodies through vaccination and breakthrough infections in the era of COVID-19 endemicity.

Despite a high vaccination rate, the COVID-19 pandemic continues with immune-evading Omicron variants. The success of additional antigenic stimulation through breakthrough infection (BI) and updated vaccination in overcoming antigenic imprinting needs to be determined. Participants in a long-term follow-up cohort of healthcare worker (HCW) vaccinee were categorized according to their infection/vaccination status.

miR-616-3p alleviates inflammatory response by targeting C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 5.

C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) is a key regulator in ER stress-mediated signaling pathway via PERK-dependent unfolded protein response. It has been known that microRNA-616 (miR-616) is produced from the intron of the human DDIT3 gene encoding CHOP and increased by ER stress. However, the role of miR-616 and its targets are not fully addressed yet.

A genome-wide and candidate gene association study of preterm birth in Korean pregnant women.

Preterm birth (PTB) refers to delivery before 37 weeks of gestation. Premature neonates exhibit higher neonatal morbidity and mortality rates than term neonates; therefore, it is crucial to predict and prevent PTB. Advancements enable the prediction and prevention of PTB using genetic approaches, especially by investigating its correlation with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).

Virological characteristics and the rapid antigen test as deisolation criteria in immunocompromised patients with COVID-19: A prospective cohort study.

There are limited data supporting current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for the isolation period in moderate to severely immunocompromised patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Adult COVID-19 patients who underwent solid organ transplantation (SOT) or received active chemotherapy against hematologic malignancy were enrolled and weekly respiratory samples were collected. Samples with positive genomic real-time polymerase chain reaction results underwent virus culture and rapid antigen testing (RAT).

Identification of Potential Drug Targets for Antiplatelet Therapy Specifically Targeting Platelets of Old Individuals through Proteomic Analysis.

Aging is a growing problem worldwide, and the prevalence and mortality of arterial and venous thromboembolism (VTE) are higher in the elderly than in the young population. To address this issue, various anticoagulants have been used. However, no evidence can confirm that antithrombotic agents are suitable for the elderly.

Effect of Particulate Matter 2.5 on Fetal Growth in Male and Preterm Infants through Oxidative Stress.

Particulate matter 2.5 (PM) levels are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. In this retrospective cohort study, we examined whether the concentration of indoor PM affected pregnancy outcomes.

Distribution of Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-Producing Diarrheagenic Clonal Complex 10 Isolates from Patients with Diarrhea in the Republic of Korea.

ESBL-producing is a public health concern in healthcare settings and the community. Between 2009 and 2018, a total of 187 ESBL-producing pathogenic isolates were identified, and clonal complex (CC) 10 was the predominant clone ( = 57). This study aimed to characterize the ESBL-producing pathogenic CC10 strains obtained from patients with diarrhea to improve our understanding of CC10 distribution in the Republic of Korea.

TonEBP Haploinsufficiency Attenuates Microglial Activation and Memory Deficits in Middle-Aged and Amyloid β Oligomer-Treated Mice.

Age-related microglial activation is associated with cognitive impairment. Tonicity-responsive enhancer-binding protein (TonEBP) is a critical mediator of microglial activation in response to neuroinflammation. However, the precise role of TonEBP in the middle-aged brain is not yet known.

A multicellular liver organoid model for investigating hepatitis C virus infection and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease progression.

Background And Aims: HCV infection can be successfully managed with antiviral therapies; however, progression to chronic liver disease states, including NAFLD, is common. There is currently no reliable in vitro model for investigating host-viral interactions underlying the link between HCV and NAFLD; although liver organoids (LOs) show promise, they currently lack nonparenchymal cells, which are key to modeling disease progression.

Approach And Results: Here, we present a novel, multicellular LO model using a coculture system of macrophages and LOs differentiated from the same human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs).

Invasive FoxM1 phosphorylated by PLK1 induces the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages to promote immune escape and metastasis, amplified by IFITM1.

Background: Understanding the mechanism behind immune cell plasticity in cancer metastasis is crucial for identifying key regulators. Previously we found that mitotic factors regulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition, but how these factors convert to metastatic players in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is not fully understood.

Methods: The clinical importance of mitotic factors was analyzed by heatmap analysis, a KM plot, and immunohistochemistry in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients.

Dietary Isoflavone Intake and Breast Cancer Prognosis: A Prospective Analysis and Meta-Analysis.

We aimed to examine the association between dietary isoflavone intake and the risk of breast cancer recurrence and summarize evidence on the role of dietary isoflavone intake in breast cancer prognosis. This prospective study included 592 breast cancer survivors who completed a dietary assessment. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models.

Association of HbA1c with functional outcome by ischemic stroke subtypes and age.

Objectives: To determine whether high HbA1c levels are related to short-and long-term functional outcomes in patients with ischemic stroke (IS) and whether this association differs according to the IS subtype and the patient's age.

Methods: The data of 7,380 IS patients admitted to 16 hospitals or regional stroke centers in South-Korea, between May 2017 and December 2019, were obtained from the Clinical Research Collaboration for Stroke-Korea-National Institute of Health database and retrospectively analyzed. Among these patients, 4,598 were followed-up for one-year.

GM1a ganglioside-binding domain peptide inhibits host adhesion and inflammatory response of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin-B in HCT-8 cells.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a major cause of illness and death but has no effective therapy. The heat-labile enterotoxin LT is a significant virulence factor produced by ETEC. The heat-labile enterotoxin-B (LT-B) subunit may enter host cells by binding to monosialotetrahexosylganglioside-a (GM1a), a monosialoganglioside found on the plasma membrane surface of animal epithelial cells.