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.

Four Unrecorded Species of Endophytic (Sordariomycetes) in Korea.

Endophytic fungi associated with four plant species in Korea were isolated and characterized using morphological and molecular analyses. Phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, β-tubulin (TUB) gene, and translation elongation factor 1-α (EF1-α) gene revealed four previously unrecorded species of in Korea: , , , and . Detailed descriptions of colony morphology and conidial characteristics are provided for each species.

A New Species and Three New Records Belonging to and from Korea.

During an investigation of fungi of the orders and in Korea, a new species, sp. nov., and three new records, , , and , were found in soil and freshwater samples.

3D bio-printed proteinaceous bioactive scaffold loaded with dual growth factor enhanced chondrogenesis and in situ cartilage regeneration.

Articular cartilage has a limited self-healing capacity, leading to joint degeneration and osteoarthritis over time. Therefore, bioactive scaffolds are gaining attention as a promising approach to regenerating and repairing damaged articular cartilage through tissue engineering. In this study, we reported on a novel 3D bio-printed proteinaceous bioactive scaffolds combined with natural porcine cancellous bone dECM, tempo-oxidized cellulose nanofiber (TOCN), and alginate carriers for TGF-β1, FGF-18, and ADSCs to repair cartilage defects.

Memory consolidation from a reinforcement learning perspective.

Memory consolidation refers to the process of converting temporary memories into long-lasting ones. It is widely accepted that new experiences are initially stored in the hippocampus as rapid associative memories, which then undergo a consolidation process to establish more permanent traces in other regions of the brain. Over the past two decades, studies in humans and animals have demonstrated that the hippocampus is crucial not only for memory but also for imagination and future planning, with the CA3 region playing a pivotal role in generating novel activity patterns.

Levamisole, as a viral vaccine adjuvant, induces robust host defense through the modulation of innate and adaptive immune responses.

Introduction: An effective vaccination policy must be implemented to prevent foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). However, the currently used vaccines for FMD have several limitations, including induction of humoral rather than cellular immune responses.

Methods: To overcome these shortcomings, we assessed the efficacy of levamisole, a small-molecule immunomodulator, as an adjuvant for the FMD vaccine.

Cation Effect on the Electrochemical Platinum Dissolution.

Ensuring the stability of electrocatalysts is paramount to the success of electrochemical energy conversion devices. Degradation is a fundamental process involving the release of positively charged metal ions into the electric double layer (EDL) and their subsequent diffusion into the bulk electrolyte. However, despite its vital importance in achieving prolonged electrocatalysis, the underlying causality of catalyst dissolution with the EDL structure remains largely unknown.

Facial Skin Quality Improvement After Treatment With CPM-HA20G: Clinical Experience in Korea.

Background: Intradermal injection of CPM-HA20G, a low-viscoelasticity hyaluronic acid (HA) dermal filler with glycerol, has been shown to be effective for facial rejuvenation in Caucasians, but research in Asians is limited.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of CPM-HA20G in enhancing facial skin quality in Korean women using a protocol developed by local aesthetic experts.

Patients/methods: In this 24-week prospective, single-arm, open-label study, 20 women received CPM-HA20G injections in the immediate subdermal layer on the anterior cheek (1 mL per side; total 2 mL) in three sessions every 4 weeks.

Bridging Experience and Practice: A Grounded Theory Study of Nurses' Hospitalisation Experiences as Patients or Family Members.

Aims: This study aimed to develop a grounded theory that explains how nurses' experiences as patients or family members influence their provision of patient-centred care.

Design: A grounded theory approach.

Methods: Twenty clinical nurses in South Korea participated; nine had experiences as patients and 11 as family members during hospitalisation.

Evaluation of physicochemical property changes in 3D-printed biodegradable medical devices under simulated oral physiological conditions.

Biodegradable medical devices undergo degradation following implantation, potentially leading to clinical failure. Consequently, it is necessary to assess the change in their properties post-implantation. However, a standardized method for the precise evaluation of the changes in their physicochemical properties is currently lacking.

Cell deconvolution-based integrated time-series network of whole blood transcriptome reveals systemic antiviral activities and cell-specific immunological changes against PRRSV infection.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) causes significant economic losses in the swine industry. However, the molecular mechanisms behind the common and cell type-specific systemic responses during PRRS virus (PRRSV) infection are not well understood. In this study, we collected viremia data, antibody levels, and whole-blood RNA-seq data obtained from eight PRRSV-infected piglets.

The fibronectin-targeting PEG-FUD imaging probe shows enhanced uptake during fibrogenesis in experimental lung fibrosis.

Progressive forms of interstitial lung diseases, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), are deadly disorders lacking non-invasive biomarkers for assessment of early disease activity, which presents a major obstacle in disease management. Excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition is a hallmark of these disorders, with fibronectin being an abundant ECM glycoprotein that is highly upregulated in early fibrosis and serves as a scaffold for the deposition of other matrix proteins. Due to its role in active fibrosis, we are targeting fibronectin as a biomarker of early lung fibrosis disease activity via the PEGylated fibronectin-binding polypeptide (PEG-FUD).

Cancer incidence and the influence of immunosuppressive agents in Korean patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: To investigate cancer incidence and the potential influence of immunosuppressive agents in Korean systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis utilizing data from the Korea Healthcare Bigdata Linked Platform, which integrated the National Central Cancer Registry and National Health Insurance Service databases covering the period 2008-2017. Incidence rates (IRs) per 10,000 person-years (PYs) for site-specific cancers of SLE patients were calculated using ICD-O-3 codes.

Use of extracorporeal shockwave therapy combined with standard rehabilitation following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are one of the most common sports injuries, accounting for approximately 50% of knee-related injuries. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), in the form of the radial (R-SWT) or focused shockwave (F-SWT), has been shown effective in treating various orthopaedic conditions. Recently, studies have investigated whether ESWT combined with standard rehabilitation may improve outcomes following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR).

The impact of regular physical activity on vertebral fractures: Korean nationwide population-based cohort study.

Background: Vertebral fractures are a common medical issue. Physical activity helps improve bone health and manage the risk of fractures. However, much controversy exists about the association between physical activity and vertebral fractures.

Clinical efficacy of 0.1% cyclosporine A in dry eye patients with inadequate responses to 0.05% cyclosporine A: a switching, prospective, open-label, multicenter study.

Purpose: To assess the clinical efficacy of 0.1% cyclosporine A (CsA) in dry eye patients who have shown inadequate responses to previous treatment with 0.05% CsA.

Classification and prognostic evaluation of ameloblastoma using multiplanar CT imaging: a retrospective analysis.

Background: Ameloblastoma is the most prevalent odontogenic tumor of the jaw, with a significant recurrence rate. It was conventionally classified radiographically as unilocular or multilocular. As 3D images become more common, there is a need to reassess this classification.

Multimodal treatments and the risk of breast cancer-related lymphedema: insights from a nationally representative cohort in South Korea.

Background: As the roles of chemotherapy (Chemo) and radiation therapy (Radio) in the definitive treatment of breast cancer have expanded, a broader understanding of the factors associated with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) has become increasingly essential. Therefore, we investigated the association between multimodality treatment and the risk of BCRL.

Methods: In this retrospective study conducted using National Health Insurance data and the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database (2006-2017), 114,638 participants who underwent Surgery (Surg) or Chemo within 6 months after breast cancer diagnosis were enrolled, and the effect of multimodality treatment on the risk of BCRL was analyzed using the Cox proportional-hazards model.