Comprehensive Review of Comorbidities in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Preserved Ratio Impaired Spirometry: Insights from 2024.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease commonly associated with multiple comorbidities, significantly affecting prognosis and clinical management. Systemic inflammation and shared risk factors contribute to the development of these comorbidities. Additionally, Preserved Ratio Impaired Spirometry (PRISm) has been recognized as a high-risk condition for COPD progression; however, its comorbid burden remains insufficiently studied.

Non-surgical resolution of a delayed esophagopleural fistula caused by tuberculous mediastinal lymphadenitis: Diagnostic challenges and therapeutic success.

Background: Esophagopleural fistula (EPF) is an abnormal pathological communication between the esophagus and the pleural space. While EPF is typically associated with malignancy or iatrogenic injury, tuberculosis (TB) is a rare cause, with only a limited number reported cases. Here, we present a case of TB related EPF that developed following diagnostic surgery and was successfully treated with anti-TB therapy alone, without the need for surgical intervention.

Proteogenomic characterization of molecular and cellular targets for treatment-resistant subtypes in locally advanced cervical cancers.

We report proteogenomic analysis of locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). Exome-seq data revealed predominant alterations of keratinization-TP53 regulation and O-glycosylation-TP53 regulation axes in squamous and adeno-LACC, respectively, compared to in early-stage cervical cancer. Integrated clustering of mRNA, protein, and phosphorylation data identified six subtypes (Sub1-6) of LACC among which Sub3, 5, and 6 showed the treatment-resistant nature with poor local recurrence-free survival.

Burnout among intensivists and critical care fellows in South Korea: Current status and associated factors.

Burnout among critical care physicians is an important issue that affects patient care and staff well-being. This study, conducted by the Korean Society of Critical Care Medicine, aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of burnout among intensivists and critical care fellows in South Korea. From May to July 2019, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in 51 hospitals and 79 intensive care units offering subspecialty training in critical care medicine.

IL-6 and PD-1 antibody blockade combination therapy regulate inflammation and T lymphocyte apoptosis in murine model of sepsis.

Background: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays a central role in sepsis-induced cytokine storm involving immune hyperactivation and early neutrophil activation. Programmed death protein-1 (PD-1) is associated with sepsis-induced immunosuppression and lymphocyte apoptosis. However, the effects of simultaneous blockade of IL-6 and PD-1 in a murine sepsis model are not well understood.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with COVID-19 on mechanical ventilation undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy.

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly strained global healthcare, particularly in the management of patients requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). This study investigated the characteristics and prognoses of these patients.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective cohort study gathered data from patients with COVID-19 across 26 medical centers.

Clinical Manifestations and Outcomes of Older Patients with COVID-19: A Comprehensive Review.

The consequences of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are particularly severe in older adults with a disproportionate number of severe and fatal outcomes. Therefore, this integrative review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the clinical characteristics, management approaches, and prognosis of older patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Common clinical presentations in older patients include fever, cough, and dyspnea.

Comparative analysis of immunotherapy responses in small cell lung cancer patients with dermatomyositis.

Cancer-associated dermatomyositis (CAD), a paraneoplastic syndrome characterized by dermatomyositis (DM), frequently presents in association with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Although the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has revolutionized cancer treatment, their efficacy and safety in patients with concurrent autoimmune diseases (AD) and malignancies remains uncertain. Several studies have suggested the safe administration of ICIs in patients with AD, indicating that successful cancer therapy can alleviate CAD symptoms.

Cathepsin C regulates tumor progression via the Yes-associated protein signaling pathway in non-small cell lung cancer.

Cathepsin C (CTSC), also known as dipeptidyl peptidase I, is a cathepsin with lysosomal exocysteine protease activity and a central coordinator for the activation of neutrophil-derived serine proteases in the lysosomes of neutrophils. Although the role of CTSC in various cancers, including liver and breast cancers, has recently been reported, its role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the functional role of CTSC in NSCLC and the molecular mechanisms underlying CTSC involvement in disease progression.

Proteogenomic landscape of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in an Asian population reveals tumor cell-enriched and immune-rich subtypes.

We report a proteogenomic analysis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Mutation-phosphorylation correlations identified signaling pathways associated with somatic mutations in significantly mutated genes. Messenger RNA-protein abundance correlations revealed potential prognostic biomarkers correlated with patient survival.

PD-L1-directed PlGF/VEGF blockade synergizes with chemotherapy by targeting CD141 cancer-associated fibroblasts in pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a poor 5-year overall survival rate. Patients with PDAC display limited benefits after undergoing chemotherapy or immunotherapy modalities. Herein, we reveal that chemotherapy upregulates placental growth factor (PlGF), which directly activates cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) to induce fibrosis-associated collagen deposition in PDAC.

Tumor-Infiltrating Neutrophils and Non-Classical Monocytes May Be Potential Therapeutic Targets for HER2 Gastric Cancer.

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death globally. The classification of advanced GC (AGC) according to molecular features has recently led to effective personalized cancer therapy for some patients. Specifically, AGC patients whose tumor cells express high levels of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) can now benefit from trastuzumab, a humanized monoclonal Ab that targets HER2.

Preclinical Efficacy and Safety of VEGF-Grab, a Novel Anti-VEGF Drug, and Its Comparison to Aflibercept.

Purpose: VEGF-Grab is a novel anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) candidate drug with higher affinity to both VEGF and placental growth factor (PlGF) compared to aflibercept. We investigated the preclinical efficacy of VEGF-Grab for ophthalmic therapy and compared it to that of aflibercept.

Methods: The in vitro anti-VEGF efficacy of VEGF-Grab was determined using VEGF-induced cell proliferation/migration and tube formation assays.

Refractory Hepatic Hydrothorax in Chronic Hepatitis C Controlled by Direct-acting Antivirals.

Hepatic hydrothorax is a transudative pleural effusion that complicates advanced liver cirrhosis. Patients refractory to medical treatment plus salt restriction and diuretics are considered to have refractory hepatic hydrothorax and may require transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) or liver transplant. Successful antiviral therapy reduces the incidence of some complications of cirrhosis secondary to HCV infection.

Feasibility of using two-dimensional axial computed tomography in pretreatment decision making for patients with early gastric cancer.

Computed tomography (CT) is widely used in the pretreatment period of early gastric cancer (EGC). Only few studies have reported low accuracy of CT imaging for T and N staging in patients with EGC. However, owing to the limited number of studies, the value of CT imaging for EGC staging is not well known.

An Incidental Discovery of Morgagni Hernia in an Elderly Patient Presented with Chronic Dyspepsia.

A Morgagni hernia was first described in 1761 by Giovanni Morgagni. In adults, it is accompanied by gastrointestinal- or respiratory-type symptoms. Herein, we report an 84-year-old woman presented to our hospital with nausea and vomiting.

A Case of Endoscopically Complete Remission of Esophageal Neuroendocrine Tumors by Concurrent Chemoradiation Therapy.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) of the esophagus are extremely rare, aggressive and have a poor prognosis. Combined therapy using chemotherapy, radiotherapy and/or surgery appear effective. Here, we present a patient with a complaint of dysphagia who was diagnosed with this rare tumor.

Metabolic engineering of Klebsiella pneumoniae and in silico investigation for enhanced 2,3-butanediol production.

Objectives: To improve the production of 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BD) in Klebsiella pneumoniae, the genes related to the formation of lactic acid, ethanol, and acetic acid were eliminated.

Results: Although the cell growth and 2,3-BD production rates of the K. pneumoniae ΔldhA ΔadhE Δpta-ackA strain were lower than those of the wild-type strain, the mutant produced a higher titer of 2,3-BD and a higher yield in batch fermentation: 91 g 2,3-BD/l with a yield of 0.

Production of 2,3-butanediol by Klebsiella oxytoca from various sugars in microalgal hydrolysate.

A new fermentation process using a mixed sugar medium is proposed in this study for 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDO) production. The medium contained seven different monosugars known to be present in Nannochloropsis oceanica hydrolysate. The performance of each sugar when existing alone or together with glucose was evaluated.

2,3-Butanediol recovery from fermentation broth by alcohol precipitation and vacuum distillation.

This study presents a new and effective downstream process to recover 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BD) from fermentation broth which is produced by a recombinant Klebsiella pneumoniae strain. The ldhA-deficient K. pneumoniae strain yielded about 90 g/L of 2,3-BD, along with a number of by-products, such as organic acids and alcohols, in a 65 h fed-batch fermentation.