At-Home Immersive Virtual Reality Exergames to Reduce Cardiometabolic Risk Among Office Workers: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: The worldwide rise in the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases has increased the recognition of the need to identify modifiable risk factors for preventing and managing these diseases. The office worker, as a representative group of physically inactive workers, is exposed to risk factors for metabolic syndrome, which is a primary driver of noncommunicable diseases. The use of virtual reality (VR) exergames may offer a potential solution to the problem of increasing noncommunicable disease prevalence, as it can help individuals increase their physical activity levels while providing a more immersive experience.

Essential oil and furanosesquiterpenes from myrrh oleo-gum resin: a breakthrough in mosquito vector management.

Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are vectors of various pathogens of public health concern and replacing conventional insecticides remains a challenge. In this regard, natural products represent valuable sources of potential insecticidal compounds, thus increasingly attracting research interest. Commiphora myrrha (T.

Exosomes and Exosome-Mimetics for Atopic Dermatitis Therapy.

Background: Exosomes and exosome mimetics are used as alternatives to cell therapy. They have shown potential in treating skin disorders by fortifying the skin barrier, mediating angiogenesis, and regulating the immune response while minimizing side effects. Currently, numerous studies have applied exosome therapy to treat atopic dermatitis (AD) caused by a weakened skin barrier and chronic inflammation.

Therapeutic potential of 4-hexylresorcinol in reducing sarcopenia in diabetic masseter muscle.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of 4-hexylresorcinol (4HR), a synthetic compound with antioxidant and stress-modulating properties, on diabetic sarcopenia in the masseter muscle.

Methods: A controlled, parallel-arm study was conducted using 38 Sprague-Dawley rats divided into diabetic and non-diabetic groups. Diabetes was induced with streptozotocin (STZ), and the groups were further subdivided to receive weekly subcutaneous injections of either 4HR or saline.

Recent trends and outcomes in immediate and delayed sequential bilateral cataract surgeries: a nationwide cohort study in South Korea.

Purpose: To analyze the latest annual trends in immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS) and delayed sequential bilateral cataract surgery (DSBCS) among patients with bilateral cataracts in Korea, and to identify the factors influencing the choice of surgery and the outcomes associated with ISBCS and DSBCS.

Methods: This retrospective, nationwide cohort study included all patients aged 65 and older who were covered by the Korean National Health Insurance and underwent ISBCS or DSBCS from 2016 to 2021. The study recorded yearly numbers of ISBCS and DSBCS procedures, the interval between surgeries in DSBCS cases, patient demographics, types of implanted intraocular lenses (IOLs), and the incidence of cystoid macular edema and endophthalmitis following ISBCS or DSBCS.

Distinct Effect of Benzophenone-3 Additive Leaching from Polyethylene Microplastics on Daphnia magna Population Dynamics.

The adverse effect of chemical additives leaching from microplastics (MPs) on Daphnia magna populations is not fully understood. In this study, D. magna populations were exposed to polyethylene (PE) MP fragments (5.

Targeting the insular cortex for neuropathic pain modulation: Insights into synaptic and neuronal mechanisms.

Neuropathic pain, caused by nerve damage, greatly affects quality of life. Recent research proposes modulating brain activity, particularly through electrical stimulation of the insular cortex (IC), as a treatment option. This study aimed to understand how IC stimulation (ICS) affects pain modulation.

Solar-Active Carbon Nitride Film Integrated by Free Radical Copolymerization for Photocatalytic Indoor Air Purification.

The current lack of stable, scalable, and efficient coating technology dramatically limits the exploitation of solar-driven graphitic carbon nitride (CN) photocatalysts. Herein, a unique, efficient, and scalable method is reported to immobilize CN powder on various substrates ranging from Fluorine tin oxide (FTO), glass, Plexiglas, Al foil, Ti foil, and Granite stone, to even wood. The film shows an outstanding thickness of 212 µm, which is the highest value ever reported.

The fluoroquinolone compounds potentiate the antifungal activity of the echinocandins against Aspergillus fumigatus.

The antifungal drugs of the echinocandin family show high efficacy against Aspergillus fumigatus. However, their paradoxical effect, which restores fungal growth at high drug concentrations, and the emergence of resistant strains necessitate improvements. We identified 13 fluoroquinolone compounds from a chemical library containing 10,000 compounds that potentiate the antifungal activity of caspofungin.

Multigas Identification by Temperature-Modulated Operation of a Single Anodic Aluminum Oxide Gas Sensor Platform and Deep Learning Algorithm.

Semiconductor metal oxide (SMO) gas sensors are gaining prominence owing to their high sensitivity, rapid response, and cost-effectiveness. These sensors detect changes in resistance resulting from oxidation-reduction reactions with target gases, responding to a variety of gases simultaneously. However, their inherent limitations lie in selectivity.

Stable H-O and radiogenic Sr isotopic ratios in bottled water in South Korea.

Stable H-O and radiogenic Sr isotopic compositions of bottled water in South Korea were investigated to trace water origins and to elucidate hydrogeochemical water-rock interactions within aquifers. Eighty-one bottled water samples were collected across the country. The δD and δO values, and Sr/Sr ratios and Sr contents of groundwater-sourced bottled water samples were in the ranges of -68 to -40 ‰, -10 to -7 ‰, 0.

Endoscopic removal of an esophageal bezoar in a patient with jackhammer esophagus.

Esophageal bezoars are known to be significantly rarer compared to gastric bezoars. A 68-year-old woman presented with acute chest pain and worsening dysphagia to both solids and liquids, culminating in inability to consume water without vomiting.

Task loading of soldering workers in small-scale manufacturing units.

Soldering is common in electrical product manufacturing, but the task load in small units is unquantified. Therefore, this study aimed to establish the occurrence of task load due to soldering work, analyzing the effects of age and sex among workers in small manufacturing units. The task load of 102 soldering workers from four small-scale manufacturing units was assessed using the National Aeronautics and Space Administration task load index (NASA-TLX) questionnaire, covering six dimensions: physical demand, mental demand, temporal demand, effort, performance and frustration.

Outcomes of Osteosynthesis of Os Subfibulare for Chronic Lateral Ankle Instability With Large Os Subfibulare.

Background: Os subfibulare (OS) is commonly found in patients with chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI). When performing lateral ligament reconstruction for CLAI, excision of a large OS can cause substantial lateral ligament defects making anatomic repair challenging. This study analyzed clinical and radiologic outcomes among patients who underwent osteosynthesis of the OS for chronic lateral ankle instability and a large OS.

Immunogenicity and vaccine efficacy of -derived extracellular vesicles as a novel vaccine candidate.

(APP) is a significant pathogen in the swine industry, leading to substantial economic losses and highlighting the need for effective vaccines. This study evaluates the potential of APP-derived extracellular vesicles (APP-EVs) as a vaccine candidate compared to the commercial Coglapix vaccine. APP-EVs, isolated using tangential flow filtration (TFF) and cushioned ultracentrifugation, exhibited an average size of 105 nm and a zeta potential of -17.

Atmospheric pressure spatial atomic layer deposition of p-type CuO thin films from copper(II) acetylacetonate and ozone for UV detection.

Cupric oxide (CuO) is a promising p-type semiconducting oxide used in many critical fields, such as energy conversion and storage, and gas sensors, which is attributed to its unique optoelectrical properties and cost-effectiveness. This work successfully deposited amorphous, pinhole-free, ultrathin CuO films using atmospheric pressure spatial atomic layer deposition (SALD) with copper(II) acetylacetonate and ozone as precursors. The growth rate increased from 0.

Taxonomic study of the genus Meigen (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) in Korea with descriptions of seven new species.

The genus Meigen, 1818, belongs to the subfamily Micromyinae (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae). The genus, comprising 40 species, is best known in the Palearctic Region. To date, four species are recorded in Korea: , , , and .

Current status of pulmonary rehabilitation and impact on prognosis of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in South Korea.

Background: The benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have been limited to improving dyspnea, exercise capacity, and quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to assess the current status of PR and its effect on prognosis.

Methods: The Nationwide Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) database was used in this study.

Impact of antifibrotic therapy on lung cancer incidence and mortality in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are at risk of lung cancer development. Antifibrotic therapy could slow disease progression of IPF, but there is limited data on its effectiveness on lung cancer. Here, we aimed to investigate lung cancer incidence and the risk of mortality of patients with IPF receiving antifibrotic therapy.

Acute kidney injury after non-cardiac major surgery: has it reduced?

Background: It remains unclear whether the incidence of post-operative acute kidney injury (PO-AKI) has been reduced despite the recent emphasis on its early recognition and prevention in clinical practice. We aimed to investigate the trend in the incidence of PO-AKI and to identify the associated factors affecting its changes.

Methods: We gathered clinical data from patients who underwent non-cardiac major surgeries at three referral hospitals from 2005 to 2020.

High-affinity promotor binding of YhaJ mediates a low signal leakage for effective DNT detection.

The YhaJ transcription factor responds to dinitrophenol (DNT) and its metabolic products. The YhaJ-involving cells have been exploited for whole-cell biosensors of soil-buried landmines. Such biosensors would decrease the damage to personnel who approach landmine fields.

Three new species of the family Idyanthidae (Copepoda, Harpacticoida) from sublittoral zones around the Korean Peninsula.

There are few taxonomic studies of the harpacticoid family Idyanthidae Lang, 1944 in the Pacific Ocean. As a first report of the family in this region, one species of the monotypic genus Lang, 1948 and two species of the genus Sars, 1905 are described from sublittoral habitats around the Korean Peninsula. sp.

Long-term high fat diet aggravates the risk of lung fibrosis and lung cancer: transcriptomic analysis in the lung tissues of obese mice.

Background: Previous studies reported significant relationships between obesity and pulmonary dysfunction. Here, we investigated genetic alterations in the lung tissues of high fat diet (HFD) induced obese mouse through transcriptomic and molecular analyses.

Methods: Eight-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were fed either a normal chow diet (NCD) or HFD for 12 weeks.

Effectiveness of artificial intelligence for detecting operable lung cancer on chest radiographs.

Background: Despite the importance of early diagnosis of lung cancer and wide availability of chest radiography, the detection of operable stage lung cancer on chest radiographs (CXRs) remains challenging. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of artificial intelligence (AI)-based CXR analysis for detecting operable lung cancers.

Methods: Patients who underwent lung cancer surgery at two referral hospitals between March 2020 and February 2021 were retrospectively included in this study.