Investigation of Novel Aronia Bioactive Fraction-Alginic Acid Nanocomplex on the Enhanced Modulation of Neuroinflammation and Inhibition of Aβ Aggregation.

Background/objectives: Aronia extract or its active compounds, especially anthocyanin, have shown potential for Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related pathologies, including neuroinflammation, fibrillogenesis of amyloid beta (Aβ), and cognitive impairment. However, there was still concern about their structural instability in vivo and in vitro. To solve the instability of anthocyanins, we combined aronia bioactive factions (ABFs) and alginic acid via electrostatic molecular interactions and created an ABF-alginic acid nanocomplex (AANCP).

Multivalent Neuroprotective Activity of (Cardamom) and (Fennel) in HO-Induced Oxidative Stress in SH-SY5Y Cells and Acellular Assays.

Background: (Cardamom) and (Fennel) are well-known spices and are also used as natural mouth fresheners. This study was performed to evaluate their neuroprotective ability based on certain acellular and cellular assays.

Methods: Hexane and ethyl acetate extracts were prepared using cardamom and fennel seeds.

Development of a Sustainable Flexible Humidity Sensor Based on Larvae Biomass-Derived Chitosan.

This study presents the fabrication of a sustainable flexible humidity sensor utilizing chitosan derived from mealworm biomass as the primary sensing material. The chitosan-based humidity sensor was fabricated by casting chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films with interdigitated copper electrodes, forming a laminate composite suitable for real-time, resistive-type humidity detection. Comprehensive characterization of the chitosan film was performed using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, contact angle measurements, and tensile testing, which confirmed its chemical structure, wettability, and mechanical stability.

A Multi-Center, Prospective, Observational Study to Evaluate the Therapeutic Effectiveness and Safety of an Olmesartan/Amlodipine Plus Rosuvastatin Combination Treatment in Patients with Concomitant Hypertension and Dyslipidemia.

This study assessed the therapeutic effectiveness of a single-pill combination (SPC) of olmesartan/amlodipine plus rosuvastatin for blood pressure (BP) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in patients with hypertension and dyslipidemia. Adult patients with hypertension and dyslipidemia who were decided to be treated with the study drug were eligible. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients who achieved BP, LDL-C and both BP and LDL-C treatment goals at weeks 24-48.

Trifolirhizin: A Phytochemical with Multiple Pharmacological Properties.

Trifolirhizin is an important flavonoid glycoside reported from the roots of medicinal plants such as Astragalus membranaceus, Sophora tonkinensis, Ononis vaginalis, Euchresta formosana, Sophora Subprostrate, Ononis spinose, and Sophora flavescens. It is considered one of the important constituents responsible for the various medicinal properties of these medicinal plants. Studies have revealed the multiple pharmacological properties of trifolirhizin: anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-ulcerative colitis, antiasthma, hepatoprotective, osteogenic, skin-whitening, wound-healing, and anticancer (against various types of cancers).

and Extracts Mixture Target Pyroptosis in Ischemic Stroke via the NLRP3 Pathway.

Ischemic stroke, caused by blocked cerebral blood flow, requires prompt intervention to prevent severe motor and cognitive impairments. Despite extensive drug development efforts, the failure rate of clinical trials remains high, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic approaches. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of a natural herbal extract mixture of Bunge (AM) and Georgi (SB), traditionally used in Eastern Asian herbal medicine (EAHM) for ischemic stroke treatment.

Evolution of Liver Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Change Point Analysis of Textbook Outcome over Twenty Years.

: The aim of this study was to comprehensively analyze the evolution in textbook outcome (TO) achievement after liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) over two decades at a single tertiary referral center. : All consecutive liver resections for HCC at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from 2003 to 2022 were analyzed. The included 1334 patients were divided into four groups by time intervals identified through change point analysis.

Characterization of Broad Spectrum Bacteriophage vB ESM-pEJ01 and Its Antimicrobial Efficacy Against Shiga Toxin-Producing in Green Juice.

Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) infections have increased in humans, animals, and the food industry, with ready-to-eat (RTE) food products being particularly susceptible to contamination. The prevalence of multidrug-resistant strains has rendered the current control strategies insufficient to effectively control STEC infections. Herein, we characterized the newly isolated STEC phage vB_ESM-pEJ01, a polyvalent phage capable of infecting and species, and assessed its efficacy in reducing STEC in vitro and food matrices.

Evaluation of a Commercial Multiplex Real-Time PCR with Melting Curve Analysis for the Detection of Complex and Five Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Species.

Background: Accurate and timely diagnosis of mycobacterial infections, including complex (MTBC) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), is crucial for effective disease management.

Methods: This study evaluated the performance of the NeoPlex TB/NTM-5 Detection Kit (NeoPlex assay, Seongnam, Republic of Korea), a multiplex real-time PCR assay that incorporates melting curve analysis, compared with the line-probe assay (LPA). The NeoPlex assay could simultaneously detect and differentiate MTBC from five other NTM species: , , , , and .

Standardization of the Agar Plate Method for Bacteriophage Production.

The growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, highlights the urgent need for alternative treatments such as bacteriophage (phage) therapy. Phage therapy offers a targeted approach to combat bacterial infections, particularly those resistant to conventional antibiotics. This study aimed to standardize an agar plate method for high-mix, low-volume phage production, suitable for personalized phage therapy.

Effectiveness of Antiviral Treatment with Intravenous Peramivir and Oral Oseltamivir for Seasonal Influenza in Children.

Background/objectives: Influenza poses significant risks in children, causing complications like febrile seizures and hospitalizations. Antiviral treatments include oseltamivir and peramivir, both FDA-approved neuraminidase inhibitors. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of intravenous peramivir and oral oseltamivir in pediatric patients presenting to an emergency department, with a primary focus on the revisit rate within 72 h post-treatment.

The Effect of Anesthetic Depth on the Occurrence of Emergence Delirium in Children Undergoing Strabismus Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study.

Background/objectives: Emergence delirium (ED) is one of the most frequent postoperative complications in pediatric patients after general anesthesia. In adults, a deeper intraoperative level of anesthesia has been reported as an independent predictor of postoperative delirium. However, the effect of anesthetic depth on ED has rarely been demonstrated in the pediatric population.

A Path Analysis Study on the Influence of Social Norms on Substance Use Severity: Focusing on People Who Use Cannabis, Narcotics, and Psychotropic Substances in South Korea.

This study investigates the effects of social norms on substance use severity mediated by health beliefs among people who use cannabis, narcotics, and psychotropic substances in Republic of Korea. A survey was administered to 109 people who use cannabis and narcotics and 191 people who use psychotropic substances between May and July 2024. Path analysis was conducted.

Endoscopic Stenting of a Fully Covered Self-Expandable Metal Stent with a Hole in Each Cavity in Malignant Hilar Biliary Obstruction: A Preclinical Proof-of-Concept Study and Initial Human Experience.

Background And Aim: Stent placement for biliary drainage in patients with malignant hilar biliary obstruction (MHBO) has been a topic of long-standing debate, and the best approach remains controversial. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and removability of multi-hole fully covered self-expandable metal stents (MH-FCSEMSs) in a preclinical experiment using swine hilar bile duct obstruction (HBDO) models and to assess the feasibility and safety of stent placement in patients with MHBO.

Methods: Three minipigs underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-guided endobiliary-radio frequency ablation (EB-RFA) to establish Bismuth type II hilar bile duct stenosis models.

Exploring the Benefits and Prescribing Informations of Combining East Asian Herbal Medicine with Conventional Medicine in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Multifaceted Analysis of 415 Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: Notwithstanding progress in conventional medicine (CM), the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) continues to be problematic due to factors such as limited patient response to treatment and restricted medication access. This study aimed to evaluate the extent to which East Asian herbal medicine with CM combination therapy (EACM) provides additional benefits in effectiveness and safety.

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search across 11 databases in English, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese for randomized controlled trials.

Effects of epidural dexmedetomidine on patient-controlled epidural analgesia after total knee arthroplasty: a single-center, prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled study.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of adding epidural dexmedetomidine to low-concentration patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) on pain control and side effects in total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods: In this double-blind study, American Society of Anesthesiologists I to II patients undergoing TKA were assigned to receive 0.125% bupivacaine + fentanyl 4 µg/mL (group R) or 0.

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.

Toward Customizable Smart Gels: A Comprehensive Review of Innovative Printing Techniques and Applications.

New production technologies have transformed modern engineering fields, including electronics, mechanics, robotics, and biomedicine. These advancements have led to the creation of smart materials such as alloys, polymers, and gels that respond to various stimuli. This review focuses on smart materials (SMs), including their variety and fabrication techniques, that can be used to construct three- or four-dimensional structures.

Neuroprotective Efficacy of in Ischemic Stroke: Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms.

Stroke affects over 12 million people annually, leading to high mortality, long-term disability, and substantial healthcare costs. Although East Asian herbal medicines are widely used for stroke treatment, the pathways of operation they use remain poorly understood. Our study investigates the neuroprotective properties of (AM) in acute ischemic stroke using photothrombotic (PTB) and transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) mouse models, as well as an oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model.

LightweightUNet: Multimodal Deep Learning with GAN-Augmented Imaging Data for Efficient Breast Cancer Detection.

Breast cancer ranks as the second most prevalent cancer globally and is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women; therefore, early, automated, and precise detection is essential. Most AI-based techniques for breast cancer detection are complex and have high computational costs. Hence, to overcome this challenge, we have presented the innovative LightweightUNet hybrid deep learning (DL) classifier for the accurate classification of breast cancer.

Accessible AI Diagnostics and Lightweight Brain Tumor Detection on Medical Edge Devices.

The timely and accurate detection of brain tumors is crucial for effective medical intervention, especially in resource-constrained settings. This study proposes a lightweight and efficient RetinaNet variant tailored for medical edge device deployment. The model reduces computational overhead while maintaining high detection accuracy by replacing the computationally intensive ResNet backbone with MobileNet and leveraging depthwise separable convolutions.

Optimizing adsorption and photocatalysis for tetracycline and sulfamethoxazole removal: the role of Ag and NH in Bi-MOF derivatives.

This study focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of the photocatalytic efficiency of bismuth-based metal-organic frameworks (Bi-MOFs) and their derivatives, specifically Ag/Bi-MOF and NH /Ag/Bi-MOF, in the degradation of tetracycline (TC) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) under visible light irradiation. Bi-MOFs are promising photocatalysts due to their large surface area, tunable porosity, and unique electronic properties that are favorable for visible light absorption. In this study, Bi-MOFs were synthesized using a solvothermal method, with the incorporation of silver (Ag) and ammonium (NH ) ions to enhance their photocatalytic performance.

[How to Achieve Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in The Korean Society of Gastroenterology?].

With the increasing emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in organizations and institutions, academic societies in gastroenterology and hepatology are beginning to take actionable steps toward achieving DEI. The successful implementation of DEI initiatives leads to excellence in the field, improved patient outcomes, particularly in areas where health disparities are prevalent, and advances in the gastrointestinal discipline. Such implementation also results in a workforce that better reflects the growing diversity of the population.

Impact of underlying diseases and complications on COVID-19 mortality in South Korea: analysis of national health insurance service data.

Background: Comorbidities or complications significantly influence coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) severity and mortality risk. Therefore, this study aimed to compare treatment outcomes of COVID-19 inpatients by underlying diseases or complications.

Method: Data on COVID-19 patients from the National Health Insurance Service customized research database were analyzed while focusing on eight underlying diseases and complications: diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, dementia, depression, and respiratory disease.

Clinical outcome and volumetric 3D analysis of biofluorescence imaging system guided surgery for Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw(MRONJ).

Background: This study aims to evaluate the clinical outcome of biofluorescent imaging system (BIS) guided MRONJ surgery through analyzing 3D volumetric changes in CBCT data of bone structure.

Methods: BIS-guided surgery for MRONJ surgery was performed by grinding red-fluorescent area from remained residual bone detected by Qray-pen. CBCT data was collected preoperatively, postoperatively, and at last follow-up more than 3 months of each patient.