Biosecurity Practices for Reducing Antimicrobial Use in Commercial Broiler Farms in Korea.

Farm biosecurity is valuable for reducing the indiscriminate use of antimicrobials. However, its relationship with antimicrobial usage can be difficult to assess because of multiple factors. This study evaluated the impact of biosecurity practices on productivity, frequency of antimicrobial use, and development of antimicrobial resistance.

Preclinical evaluation of a surgical assistant robot for use in minimally invasive abdominal surgeries.

In recent years, robotic assistance has become increasingly used and applied in minimally invasive surgeries. A new cooperative surgical robot system that includes a joystick-guided robotic scope holder was developed in this study, and its feasibility for use in minimally invasive abdominal surgery was evaluated in a preclinical setting. The cooperative surgical robot consists of a six-degree-of-freedom collaborative robot arm and a one-degree-of-freedom bidirectional telescopic end-effector specializing in surgical assistance.

Establishment of Local Diagnostic Reference Levels for Pediatric Neck CT at Nine University Hospitals in South Korea.

Objective: To establish local diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for pediatric neck CT based on age, weight, and water-equivalent diameter (WED) across multiple university hospitals in South Korea.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study analyzed pediatric neck CT examinations from nine university hospitals, involving patients aged 0-18 years. Data were categorized by age, weight, and WED, and radiation dose metrics, including volume CT dose index (CTDI) and dose length product, were recorded.

Self-Assembled Monolayer-Functionalized NiO Hole Injection layer for Improved Charge Injection in Quantum Dot Light-Emitting Diodes.

The development of quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) represents a promising advancement in next-generation display technology. However, there are challenges, especially in achieving efficient hole injection, maintaining charge balance, and replacing low-stability organic materials such as PEDOT:PSS. To address these issues, in this study, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) were employed to modify the surface properties of NiO, a hole injection material, within the structure of ITO/HIL/TFB/QDs/ZnMgO/Al QLEDs.

Reduced-intensity chemotherapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitor followed by allogeneic transplantation is effective in patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Background/aims: To determine the effectiveness of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) plus reduced-intensity therapy in adult patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph-positive ALL), this retrospective study compared treatment outcomes and induction mortality according to backbone regimen intensity.

Methods: The data of 132 patients diagnosed with Ph-positive ALL were retrospectively collected from five centers. Patients received imatinib plus intensive chemotherapy (modified VPD, KALLA1407, or hyper-CVAD) or reduced-intensity chemotherapy (EWALL) for curative purposes.

The characteristics of Korean elderly multiple myeloma patients aged 80 years or over.

Background/aims: Multiple myeloma (MM) predominantly affects elderly individuals, but studies on older patients with MM are limited. The clinical characteristics and survival outcomes of patients with MM aged 80 years or over were retrospectively analyzed.

Methods: This retrospective multicenter study was conducted to investigate the clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and survival outcomes of patients aged 80 years or over who were newly diagnosed with MM at five academic hospitals in Daegu, Korea, between 2010 and 2019.

Incidence and risk factors of immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced colitis in Korean patients with cancer.

Background/aims: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are effective in treating cancer. However, various immune-related adverse events (irAEs) have become prevalent, with ICI-induced colitis being the most common gastrointestinal irAE. Thus, we aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors of ICI-induced colitis in Korean patients with cancer.

Cohort profile: Multicenter Networks for Ideal Outcomes of Rare Pediatric Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases in Korea (OUTSPREAD study).

Rare endocrine diseases are complex conditions that require lifelong specialized care due to their chronic nature and associated long-term complications. In Korea, a lack of nationwide data on clinical practice and outcomes has limited progress in patient care. Therefore, the Multicenter Networks for Ideal Outcomes of Pediatric Rare Endocrine and Metabolic Disease (OUTSPREAD) study was initiated.

Body shape concerns and behavioral intentions on eating disorders: a cross-sectional study of Chinese female university students using an extended theory of reasoned action model.

Background: Weight and body shape concerns have become increasingly common among adolescents. Chinese university students show a high risk of eating disorder behaviors. This study aims to analyze the moderating effect of BMI on the relationships between body shape, attitudes, subjective norms, and eating disorder behavioral intentions among Chinese female university students using the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) model.

Evaluation of Glutathione T in the Human Brain Using J-Difference MRS at 3 T: Multicenter Multivendor Study.

The need to quantify brain glutathione (GSH) accurately by J-difference spectroscopy has stimulated assessment of the TE effects on GSH edited signals at the popular field strength 3 T. We performed multiple-TE J-difference MRS at two sites to evaluate the GSH T relaxation and TE dependence of the GSH signal resolution. Two 10-ms spectrally selective Gaussian editing RF pulses were implemented in 3 T MEGA-PRESS sequences at two sites having different vendors.

Encapsulation, vacuolation, and phagocytosis of the opportunistic fungal pathogen Cryptococcus in the liver of an immunocompetent host.

The cellular characteristics of the opportunistic fungal pathogen Cryptococcus species were investigated in the infected liver of an immunocompetent host using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). With no records of immunodeficiency, the 3-year-old female patient displayed a high-grade fever, lethargy, and increasing jaundice. TEM analysis revealed the presence of round yeast cells in the patient's liver.

Insecticide resistance mutations of Anopheles species in the Republic of Korea.

The number of reported malaria cases transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes in the Republic of Korea (ROK) increased from 420 in 2022 to 746 in 2023, a 77.6% increase. Eight Anopheles species are currently reported in the ROK, including six species belonging to the Anopheles Hyrcanus Group and one species each belonging to the Barbirostris Group and Lindesayi Group.

Optimizing injection accuracy for Baxter's nerve entrapment: an ultrasonography-guided approach based on anatomical surface landmarks.

Introduction: The clinical feasibility and applicability of surface landmarks for Baxter nerve entrapment to proximal and distal sites is unclear. This study provides anatomical guidelines for optimal transducer placement using two specific landmarks, the most inferior tip of the medial malleolus (A) and the most protruding posterior tip of the calcaneus (B), to enhance the diagnostic and therapeutic injection efficacy for proximal and distal entrapment sites.

Materials And Methods: Eighty-six feet from 45 fresh cadavers (25 male and 20 female) were dissected to determine Baxter's nerve (BN) localization.

Anion-Rich Interface via a Self-Assembled Monolayer toward a Long-Lifespan Li Metal Battery.

Due to the extremely high energy density of Li metal, Li metal batteries are regarded as one of the most promising candidates for next-generation energy storage systems. However, interfacial issues, particularly the unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and lithium dendritic growth, hinder practical application. Herein, we induce an anion-rich interface near the Li metal by introducing positively charged self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on ceramic-coated separators to simultaneously stabilize the SEI and homogenize the Li deposition.

Sybil Attack-Resistant Blockchain-Based Proof-of-Location Mechanism with Privacy Protection in VANET.

In this paper, we propose a Proof-of-Location (PoL)-based location verification scheme for mitigating Sybil attacks in vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs). For this purpose, we employ smart contracts for storing the location information of the vehicles. This smart contract is maintained by Road Side Units (RSUs) and acts as a ground truth for verifying the position information of the neighboring vehicles.

Pathway Analysis of Allulose as a Sugar Substitute in Mitigating Thrombotic Risks in Sickle Cell Disease Patients.

Long-term consumption of erythritol, a widely used sugar substitute, has been associated with increased risks of thrombosis and cardiometabolic diseases. In this study, we investigated the effects and mechanisms of allulose in mitigating these risks compared to erythritol using the clusterProfiler tool in R (version 4.12.

Taxonomical, Physiological, and Biochemical Characteristics of DSTA20 from Hypersaline Environments of Taean Salt Pond, Republic of Korea.

, a halophilic unicellular chlorophyte, produces bioactive compounds and biofuels applicable to various industries. Despite its industrial significance, comprehensive studies on the morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics of the genus remain challenging. In this study, we characterized an axenically isolated green alga from a salt pond in Taean, Republic of Korea, and assessed its industrially relevant traits.

Characterization of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Isolates from Ticks Collected During 2020 in Selenge, Mongolia.

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) causes neurological disease in humans, with varied clinical severity influenced by the viral subtype. TBEV is endemic to Mongolia, where both Siberian and Far-Eastern subtypes are present. is considered the main vector of TBEV in Mongolia; although, the virus has also been detected in species.

Comprehensive Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Cell-Type-Specific Roles of Human Odorant Receptors in Glioblastoma and the Tumor Microenvironment.

Odorant receptors (ORs), which constitute approximately 50% of all human G protein-coupled receptors, are increasingly recognized for their diverse roles beyond odor perception, including functions in various pathological conditions like brain diseases and cancers. However, the roles of ORs in glioblastoma (GBM), the most aggressive primary brain tumor with a median survival of only 15 months, remain largely unexplored. Here, we performed an integrated transcriptomic analysis combining The Cancer Genome Atlas RNA-seq and single-cell RNA sequencing data from GBM patients to uncover cell-type-specific roles of ORs within the tumor and its microenvironment.

Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes Based on Changes in Glycosylated Hemoglobin Levels During First and Second Trimesters of Pregnancy in Women with Pregestational Diabetes: Multicenter, Retrospective Cohort Study in South Korea.

This study compared glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy and assessed maternal and neonatal outcomes according to HbA1c variations among women with pregestational diabetes. This retrospective, multicenter Korean study involved mothers with diabetes who had given birth in 17 hospitals. A total of 292 women were divided into three groups based on HbA1c levels during the first and second trimesters: women with HbA1c levels maintained at <6.

Automated Screening of Precancerous Cervical Cells Through Contrastive Self-Supervised Learning.

Cervical cancer is a significant health challenge, yet it can be effectively prevented through early detection. Cytology-based screening is critical for identifying cancerous and precancerous lesions; however, the process is labor-intensive and reliant on trained experts to scan through hundreds of thousands of mostly normal cells. To address these challenges, we propose a novel distribution-augmented approach using contrastive self-supervised learning for detecting abnormal squamous cervical cells from cytological images.

Sodium Phenylbutyrate Attenuates Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury Through Inhibition of Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinase 4.

Cisplatin nephrotoxicity is a significant clinical issue, and currently, no approved drug exists to prevent cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). This study investigated whether sodium phenylbutyrate (4-PBA), a chemical chaperone, can prevent cisplatin-induced AKI. Six consecutive days of intraperitoneal injections of 4-PBA were administered in a murine model before and after the cisplatin challenge.