Evolutionary patterns of the SSU rRNA (V4 region) secondary structure in genus (Ciliophora, Spirotrichea): insights into cryptic species and primitive traits.

The genus , a group of ciliated protists, has attracted attention as a model organism due to its widespread distribution and ease of cultivation. This study examines the evolutionary patterns of the SSU rRNA secondary structure within this genus, aiming to elucidate its role in supporting evolutionary relationships and uncovering cryptic species. By predicting the secondary structure of SSU rRNA and applying the CBC (Compensatory Base Change) concept analysis, we examined 69 species of the genus , with 57 SSU rRNA gene sequences retrieved from GenBank and 12 newly sequenced specimens from South Korea.

Hyperspectral analysis to assess gametocytogenesis stage progression in malaria-infected human erythrocytes.

Significance: Developments of anti-gametocyte drugs have been delayed due to insufficient understanding of gametocyte biology. We report a systematic workflow of data processing algorithms to quantify changes in the absorption spectrum and cell morphology of single malaria-infected erythrocytes. These changes may serve as biomarkers instrumental for the future development of antimalarial strategies, especially for anti-gametocyte drug design and testing.

Moderate PM exposure increases prostate cancer: a longitudinal nationwide cohort study (2010-2020).

Introduction: Fine dust exposure has been reported to affect patients with prostate cancer, making it crucial to understand how environmental pollutants impact health. This study aimed to determine the risk of prostate cancer in South Korea associated with moderate levels of fine dust (PM) exposure.

Methods: We analyzed data from 20,430 individuals in the National Health Insurance Sharing Service database from 2010 to 2020, comparing a new prostate cancer group ( = 4,071, 19.

Expression of kiwifruit-derived actinidin in leaves.

Kiwifruit ()-derived actinidin, a cysteine protease, is renowned for its meat-tenderizing and milk-clotting activities. Despite its potential in various biotechnological applications, an efficient expression platform for actinidin production has not yet been developed. Instead, actinidin has traditionally been purified directly from the fruits of various plants.

Fabrication of water-dispersible dye/polymer matrix-stabilized β-FeOOH (Rh-B/F127@β-FeOOH) nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization and therapeutic applications.

In this study, dye/polymer matrix-stabilized β-FeOOH nanomaterials were fabricated for therapeutic applications. Rh-B/F127@β-FeOOH nanomaterials were synthesized using two different methods: co-precipitation (CoP) and hydrothermal (HT) methods. The as-synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques, including FT-IR, UV-Vis, PL, XRD, HR-TEM, and XPS analysis.

Highly selective ethanol gas sensor based on CdS/TiCT MXene composites.

Sensing of hazardous gases has an important role in ensuring safety in a variety of industries as well as environments. Mainly produced by the combustion of fossil fuels and other organic matter, ethanol is a dangerous gas that endangers human health and the environment. Stability and sensing sensitivity are major considerations when designing gas sensors.

Fabrication of a micropatterned shape-memory polymer patch with L-DOPA for tendon regeneration.

A scaffold design for tendon regeneration has been proposed, which mimics the microstructural features of tendons and provides appropriate mechanical properties. We synthesized a temperature-triggered shape-memory polymer (SMP) using the ring-opening polymerization of polycaprolactone (PCL) with polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a macroinitiator. We fabricated a micropatterned patch using SMP capillary force lithography, which mimicked a native tendon, for providing physical cues and guiding effects.

Association Between Diabetes Mellitus Education and Self-Management Pre- and Post-COVID-19.

Purpose: This study explored the association between diabetes education and self-management during different COVID-19 periods.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Korea Community Health Survey (2019, 2021, and 2022) and the data from Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

Pro-inflammatory dietary pattern and the risk of female gout: sex-specific findings from three prospective cohort studies.

Objective: We aimed to determine whether a pro-inflammatory dietary pattern (mechanism-based diet) is associated with incident female gout among two large cohorts of US women.

Methods: We prospectively followed 79,104 women from Nurses' Health Study (NHS; 1984-2016) and 93,454 women from NHSII (1991-2017); 45,445 men from Health Professionals Follow-up Study (1986-2016) served as a comparison cohort. Validated food frequency questionnaires were used to calculate Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Pattern (EDIP; food-based index predictive of circulating inflammatory biomarkers) scores every 4-years.

Heat-Assisted Direct Photopatterning of Small-Molecule OLED Emitters at the Micrometer Scale.

A crucial step in fabricating full-color organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays is patterning the emissive layer (EML). Traditional methods utilize thermal evaporation through metal masks. However, this limits the achievable resolution required for emerging microdisplay technologies.

Urolithin A attenuates apoptosis and ferroptosis in hyperlipidemic tenocytes through PPARδ/ALDH2-mediated antioxidative signaling.

Urolithin A (URA), a product of the gut microflora from foods rich in ellagitannins found in berries and nuts, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antioxidative stress properties in various disease models. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of cell death, is considered a pathogenic cause of tendinopathy. However, the effects of URA on hyperlipidemic tenocytes and the related molecular mechanisms for the treatment of tendinopathy have not been elucidated.

Effects of Unit Cell Size on Thermal Conductivity in Two Different Polymorphs of Niobium Diselenide.

2D materials possess weak inter-layer van der Waals bonding, allowing them to exist as different polymorphs depending on the stacking sequence of the layers. Herein, the thermal conductivities of the 2H-NbSe and 2H-3R-NbSe polymorphs by conducting experimental measurements and theoretical analysis are comparatively studied. Owing to its 1.

Lighting the Path to Precision Healthcare: Advances and Applications of Wearable Photonic Sensors.

Recent advancements in wearable photonic sensors have marked a transformative era in healthcare, enabling non-invasive, real-time, portable, and personalized medical monitoring. These sensors leverage the unique properties of light toward high-performance sensing in form factors optimized for real-world use. Their ability to offer solutions to a broad spectrum of medical challenges - from routine health monitoring to managing chronic conditions, inspires a rapidly growing translational market.

Enhanced membrane protein production in HEK293T cells via gene knockout: A CRISPR-Cas9 mediated approach.

HEK293T cells are extensively utilized for therapeutic protein production due to their human origin, which enables accurate post-translational modifications. This study aimed to enhance membrane protein production in HEK293T cells by knocking out the ATF4 gene using CRISPR-Cas9 technology. The ATF4 gene was edited by infecting HEK293T cells with a lentivirus carrying optimized single-guide RNA (ATF4-KO-3) and Cas9 genes.

Trajectories and Influencing Factors of Post-Traumatic Stress in Disaster-Affected People According to Their Income Level: A Longitudinal Study in South Korea.

Objective: Disasters often have long-lasting effects on the mental health of people affected by them. This study aimed to examine the trajectories and predictors of mental health in people affected by disasters according to their income level.

Method: This study used data from the "Long-Term Survey on the Change of Life of Disaster Victim" conducted by the National Disaster Management Research Institute.

Evaluation of the Role of PnuC Gene in Enhancing Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Synthesis.

The PnuC gene plays a crucial role in the complex processes related to the absorption and synthesis of the nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) precursor. NMN, a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) precursor, is important for cellular energy metabolism, DNA repair, and antiaging. This study focuses on elucidating the precursor absorption mechanism and the specific function of the PnuC gene in encoding membrane transport proteins, as well as its impact on the regulation and dynamics of NMN within the cell.

The role of four-dimensional flow MRI as an adjunct to endoscopy for predicting variceal bleeding in patients with cirrhosis.

Background: Non-invasive approach other than conventional endoscopy could be effectively used for screening and monitoring esophageal variceal bleeding (EVB).

Purpose: To retrospectively investigate the role of four-dimensional (4D) flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as an add-on tool to endoscopy for predicting EVB in cirrhotic patients with esophageal varices (EVs).

Material And Methods: A cohort of 109 cirrhotic patients with EVs was divided into four groups: A = negative red color [RC] sign, no EVB, n = 60; B = negative RC sign, EVB, n = 13; C = positive RC sign, no EVB, n = 10; and D = positive RC sign, EVB, n = 26.

A Single Amino Acid Model for Hydrophobically Driven Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation.

This study proposes fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-protected single amino acids (Fmoc-AAs) as a minimalistic model system to investigate liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and the elusive liquid-to-solid transition of condensates. We demonstrated that Fmoc-AAs exhibit LLPS depending on the pH and ionic strength, primarily driven by hydrophobic interactions. Systematic examination of the conditions under which each Fmoc-AA undergoes LLPS revealed distinct residue-dependent trends in the critical concentrations and phase behavior.

Improvement in Central Sensitization Following Total Knee Arthroplasty Is Associated With Severe Preoperative Pain and Affects Postoperative Quality of Life: A Retrospective Study.

Objective: Central sensitization (CS) is associated with quality of life (QOL) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, how CS changes after TKA and whether these changes have clinical relevance remain unclear. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify changes in CS after TKA and to assess the clinical significance of these changes.

Characterisation of the Novel HLA-C*03:657 Allele in a Korean Individual by Next-Generation Sequencing.

HLA-C*03:657 differs from HLA-C*03:04:01:02 by one nucleotide substitution in codon 82 in exon 2.

Bioactive Functionalized Chitosan Thermo-Responsive Hydrogels as Promising Platforms for Therapeutic, Regenerative Oral, and Maxillofacial Applications.

Due to their superior physicochemical features, chitosan thermosensitive hydrogels are multipurpose platforms that are frequently used in the biomedical industry. Many investigations have been conducted recently to modify their pore dimensions, expansion, biodegradability, stimulus-reaction characteristics, and other characteristics in order to better tailor them to the complex craniofacial tissues. They have been the focus of various studies that have attempted to load biological cargos for therapeutic and regenerative uses in the oro-facial tissues.

Knockout of Pro-Apoptotic BAX and BAK1 Genes in HEK293T Cells Enhances Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) Production: AAV2 and AAV9.

Increasing demand for adeno-associated virus (AAV) used in gene therapy highlights the need to enhance AAV production. When intracellular AAV2 and extracellular AAV9 were produced in HEK293T cells using the triple transfection method, apoptosis occurred during the AAV production. To mitigate apoptosis induced by AAV production, the pro-apoptotic BAX/BAK1 genes were knocked out in HEK293T cells.

Noninvasive in vivo imaging of macrophages: understanding tumor microenvironments and delivery of therapeutics.

Macrophages are pivotal in the body's defense and response to inflammation. They are present in significant numbers and are widely implicated in various diseases, including cancer. While molecular and histological techniques have advanced our understanding of macrophage biology, their precise function within the cancerous microenvironments remains underexplored.

Incidence of Venous Thromboembolism in Asian Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background/aims: Although incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have been gradually increasing throughout Asia, incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in Asia is relatively lower than that in Western and is not well known. This study aimed to evaluate incidence of VTE in Asian IBD patients using a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: Studies were identified through literature search of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases (from inception inclusive April 2024) for English studies.

Second-generation anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies for Alzheimer's disease: current landscape and future perspectives.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia. Monoclonal antibodies (MABs) serve as a promising therapeutic approach for AD by selectively targeting key pathogenic factors, such as amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide, tau protein, and neuroinflammation. Specifically, based on their efficacy in removing Aβ plaques from the brains of patients with AD, the U.