Polysaccharide Fraction Isolated from Exhibits Anti-Cancer Effects Through Immunostimulating Activities.

The present research aimed to assess the anti-cancer effects of the polysaccharide fraction (SJP) isolated from . The release of immune-activating cytokines, including IL-6, IL-12, and TNF-α, was markedly stimulated by the SJP in a concentration-dependent manner within the range of 1 to 100 µg/mL. Furthermore, the prophylactic intravenous () and per os () injection of SJP boosted the cytolytic activity mediated by NK cells and CTLs against tumor cells.

Role of Carrot ( L.) Storage Roots in Drought Stress Adaptation: Hormonal Regulation and Metabolite Accumulation.

Drought stress has become one of the biggest concerns in threating the growth and yield of carrots ( L.). Recent studies have shed light on the physiological and molecular metabolisms in response to drought in the carrot plant; however, tissue-specific responses and regulations are still not fully understood.

The Validation of a Novel, Sex-Specific LDL-Cholesterol Equation and the Friedewald, Sampson-NIH, and Extended-Martin-Hopkins Equations Against Direct Measurement in Korean Adults.

: The currently established equations for calculating low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) do not reflect the sex-specific differences in lipid metabolism. We aimed to develop a sex-specific LDLc equation (SSLE) and validate it with three established equations (Friedewald, Sampson-NIH, and ext-Martin-Hopkins) against direct LDLc measurement in Korean adults. This study included 23,757 subjects (51% male; median age, 51 years) from the 2009-2022 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Light Spectral-Ranged Specific Metabolisms of Plant Pigments.

Chlorophyll is the primary pigment responsible for capturing light energy during photosynthesis, while carotenoids assist in light absorption and provide photoprotection by dissipating excess energy. Both pigments are essential for plant growth and development, playing distinct and complementary roles in maintaining photosynthetic efficiency and protecting plants from oxidative stress. Because of their function in photosynthesis and photoprotection, chlorophyll and carotenoid accumulation are strongly associated with light conditions, especially blue and red lights, which play key roles in regulating their metabolisms.

Geometric Feature Characterization of Apple Trees from 3D LiDAR Point Cloud Data.

The geometric feature characterization of fruit trees plays a role in effective management in orchards. LiDAR (light detection and ranging) technology for object detection enables the rapid and precise evaluation of geometric features. This study aimed to quantify the height, canopy volume, tree spacing, and row spacing in an apple orchard using a three-dimensional (3D) LiDAR sensor.

Evaluation of Ceramic Membrane Filtration for Alternatives to Microplastics in Cosmetic Formulations Using FlowCam Analysis.

The rapid expansion of the cosmetics industry has significantly increased the adoption of alternative microplastics in response to increasingly stringent global environmental regulations. This study presents a comparative analysis of the treatment performance of silica powder and cornstarch-common alternatives for microplastics in cosmetics-using ceramic membrane filtration combined with flow imaging microscopy (FlowCam) to analyze particle behavior. Bench-scale crossflow filtration experiments were performed with commercially available alumina ceramic membranes.

ZIF-8-Embedded Cation-Exchange Membranes with Improved Monovalent Ion Selectivity for Capacitive Deionization.

Membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) is an electrochemical ion separation process that combines ion-exchange membranes (IEMs) with porous carbon electrodes to enhance desalination efficiency and address the limitations of conventional capacitive deionization (CDI). In this study, a cation-exchange membrane (CEM) embedded with a metal-organic framework (MOF) was developed to effectively separate monovalent and multivalent cations in influent solutions via MCDI. To fabricate CEMs with high monovalent ion selectivity, ZIF-8 was incorporated into sulfonated poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (SPPO) at various weight ratios.

Carbon Nanofiber-Reinforced Carbon Black Support for Enhancing the Durability of Catalysts Used in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Against Carbon Corrosion.

This study addresses the critical challenge of carbon corrosion in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) by developing hybrid supports that combine the high surface area of carbon black (CB) with the superior crystallinity and graphitic structure of carbon nanofibers (CNFs). Two commercially available CB samples were physically activated and composited with two types of CNFs synthesized via chemical vapor deposition using different carbon sources. The structure, morphology, and crystallinity of the resulting CNF-CB hybrid supports were characterized, and the performances of these hybrid supports in mitigating carbon corrosion and enhancing the PEMFC performance was evaluated through full-cell testing in collaboration with a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) manufacturer (VinaTech, Seoul, Republic, of Korea), adhering to industry-standard fabrication and evaluation procedures.

Cytomegalovirus-associated panenteritis in an immunocompetent 60-year-old woman treated with oral valganciclovir: a case report.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection typically affects immunocompromised individuals. However, CMV-associated enteritis involving the entire small intestine is rare in immunocompetent patients. We report a case of a 60-year-old immunocompetent woman with a history of diabetes mellitus who presented with diarrhea for 3 weeks.

Fundus Photography-Based Distribution of Retinal Hemorrhages in Newborns: Implications for Underlying Mechanisms.

The aim of this study was to investigate the locational distribution and potential mechanisms of retinal hemorrhages in newborns using fundus photography. A retrospective analysis of 98 consecutive newborns with retinal hemorrhages in at least one eye and 30 control newborns without retinal hemorrhages after uneventful delivery was conducted. Retinal hemorrhages were diagnosed and characterized using fundus photography and indirect ophthalmoscopy.

Preference for On-Demand Fexuprazan Therapy in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Maintenance therapy is crucial in managing and preventing symptom relapse in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), with continuous and on-demand therapy being the common approaches. However, maintenance therapy using potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs), such as fexuprazan, remains incompletely evaluated. This single-center, single-arm, prospective cohort study enrolled individuals with weekly heartburn or acid regurgitation and confirmed erosive esophagitis.

Potential Chemopreventive Role of Proton Pump Inhibitors in Head and Neck Cancer: Insights from a Nested Case-Control Analysis of a National Health Screening Cohort.

: This study investigated the potential chemopreventive role of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use in relation to the occurrence of head and neck cancer (HNC) within a national cohort amid concerns of PPI overprescription. : From a cohort of 1,137,861 individuals and 219,673,817 medical claim records collected between 2005 and 2019, 1677 HNC patients were identified and matched 1:4 with 6708 controls after adjusting for covariates. Odds ratios (ORs) for PPI use and its duration in relation to HNC and its subsites were estimated using propensity score overlap-weighted multivariable logistic regression.

Personalized Risk Assessment for Taxane-Induced Hypersensitivity Reactions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Taxanes, including paclitaxel and docetaxel, are widely used in cancer treatment but frequently cause hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs), disrupting treatment continuity. This meta-analysis aimed to identify consistent risk factors for taxane-induced HSRs to support personalized risk assessments and optimize therapeutic outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis followed the PRISMA guidelines and was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023476738).

Establishment of a Rapid and Convenient Fluoroimmunoassay Platform Using Antibodies Against PDL1 and HER2.

The development of accurate and high-throughput tools for cancer biomarker detection is crucial for the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of diseases. In this study, we developed a simple and rapid fluorescence-linked immunosorbent assay (FLISA) using fluorescent dye-conjugated antibody fragments against programmed cell death ligand 1 (PDL1) and human epithelial growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). We optimized key steps in the FLISA process, including antigen immobilization, blocking, and antibody reaction, reading the assay time to 3 h-significantly faster compared to the 23 h duration of usual FLISA.

First Report on Microbial-Derived Polydeoxyribonucleotide: A Sustainable and Enhanced Alternative to Salmon-Based Polydeoxyribonucleotide.

Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) has emerged as a potent bioactive compound with proven efficacy in wound healing, tissue regeneration, and anti-inflammatory applications and is predominantly derived from salmonid gonads. However, this study presents a groundbreaking advancement by successfully extracting and characterizing PDRN from microbial sources, specifically , marking the first report to utilize microbial-, biome-, or -derived PDRN (L-PDRN). The findings demonstrate the enhanced biological properties of L-PDRN over traditional salmon-derived PDRN across several assays.

Editorial for the Special Issue 'Molecular Mechanisms of Leukemia'.

Leukemia encompasses a diverse and intricate group of hematological malignancies that arise from hematopoietic stem and progenitors (HSPCs) in the bone marrow [...

Editorial for the Special Issue 'Molecular Breeding and Genetics Research in Plants'.

Despite significant advancements in plant breeding research, the challenges posed by a growing global population, the impact of abiotic and biotic stresses, and the uncertainties of climate change necessitate continued focus and innovation in plant breeding and genetic studies [...

Mechanisms and Emerging Regulators of Neuroinflammation: Exploring New Therapeutic Strategies for Neurological Disorders.

Neuroinflammation is a complex and dynamic response of the central nervous system (CNS) to injury, infection, and disease. While acute neuroinflammation plays a protective role by facilitating pathogen clearance and tissue repair, chronic and dysregulated inflammation contributes significantly to the progression of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Multiple Sclerosis. This review explores the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neuroinflammation, focusing on the roles of microglia, astrocytes, and peripheral immune cells.

Anticancer Ribosomally Synthesized and Post-Translationally Modified Peptides from Plants: Structures, Therapeutic Potential, and Future Directions.

Cancer remains a significant medical challenge, necessitating the discovery of novel therapeutic agents. Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) from plants have emerged as a promising source of anticancer compounds, offering unique structural diversity and potent biological activity. This review identifies and discusses cytotoxic RiPPs across various plant families, focusing on their absolute chemical structures and reported cytotoxic activities against cancer cell lines.

Aptamer-Conjugated Multi-Quantum Dot-Embedded Silica Nanoparticles for Lateral Flow Immunoassay.

Lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs) are widely used for their low cost, simplicity, and rapid results; however, enhancing their reliability requires the meticulous selection of ligands and nanoparticles (NPs). SiO@QD@SiO (QD) nanoparticles, which consist of quantum dots (QDs) embedded in a silica (SiO) core and surrounded by an outer SiO shell, exhibit significantly higher fluorescence intensity (FI) compared to single QDs. In this study, we prepared QD@PEG@Aptamer, an aptamer conjugated with QD using succinimidyl-[(N-maleimidopropionamido)-hexaethyleneglycol]ester, which is 130 times brighter than single QDs, for detecting carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 through LFIA.

Integration of Functional Materials in Photonic and Optoelectronic Technologies for Advanced Medical Diagnostics.

Integrating functional materials with photonic and optoelectronic technologies has revolutionized medical diagnostics, enhancing imaging and sensing capabilities. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent innovations in functional materials, such as quantum dots, perovskites, plasmonic nanomaterials, and organic semiconductors, which have been instrumental in the development of diagnostic devices characterized by high sensitivity, specificity, and resolution. Their unique optical properties enable real-time monitoring of biological processes, advancing early disease detection and personalized treatment.

Theranostic Contact Lens for Ocular Cystinosis Utilizing Gold Nanoparticles.

Ocular cystinosis is a disease in which accumulated cystine crystals cause damage to the eyes, necessitating timely treatment and ongoing monitoring of cystine levels. The current treatment involves frequent administration of cysteamine eye drops, which suffer from low bioavailability and can lead to drug toxicity, making it essential to prescribe an appropriate dosage based on the patient's condition. Additionally, cystine crystal levels are typically assessed subjectively via slit-lamp examination, requiring frequent clinical visits and causing discomfort for the patient.

Polysaccharide Hydrogel-Assisted Biosensing Platforms for Point-of-Care Use.

Point-of-care (POC) use is one of the essential goals of biosensing platforms. Because the increasing demand for testing cannot be met by a centralized laboratory-based strategy, rapid and frequent testing at the right time and place will be key to increasing health and safety. To date, however, there are still difficulties in developing a simple and affordable, as well as sensitive and effective, platform that enables POC use.

Recent Advances in Biosensors Using Enzyme-Stabilized Gold Nanoclusters.

Recently, gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) have been widely used in biological applications due to their ultrasmall size, ranging within a few nanometers; large specific surface area; easy functionalization; unique fluorescence properties; and excellent conductivity. However, because they are unstable in solution, AuNCs require stabilization by using ligands such as dendrimers, peptides, DNA, and proteins. As a result, the properties of AuNCs and their formation are determined by the ligand, so the selection of the ligand is important.

Self-Reactive Carbon Dioxide Absorbent with Sodium Carbonate-Based Hydrogel.

Sodium carbonate is an abundant, low-cost, and low-hazard raw material widely used as a food additive and CO absorbent in the food industry. However, its application in food packaging is limited because it is used in solid form, either in sachets or as a compounding ingredient in plastics. Solid sodium carbonate requires an external moisture supply for CO absorption, with its performance dependent on moisture availability.