Symptoms, risk of future exacerbations, and response to long-term macrolide treatment in bronchiectasis: an observational study.

Background: Previous studies have suggested that daily symptoms are a marker of bronchiectasis disease activity and could therefore identify patients at increased risk of exacerbation. However, international bronchiectasis guidelines recommend long-term macrolide treatment only in patients with three or more exacerbations per year. We aimed to investigate if symptoms independently predict future exacerbations and therefore identify additional responders to long-term macrolide treatment.

Phytoplankton community responses to environmental changes in the Yellow Sea.

This research examines phytoplankton dynamics in the Yellow Sea (YS), a highly productive and ecologically significant region currently experiencing rapid environmental changes. Using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), we analyzed phytoplankton pigment composition from samples collected between 2018 and 2020 to assess community responses to environmental factors. Cluster analysis, Redundancy Analysis (RDA), Variance Partitioning Analysis (VPA), and Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) were applied to identify dominant phytoplankton communities and their environmental association.

Impact of rheumatoid arthritis, seropositivity and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs on mortality risk in bronchiectasis.

Background: Comorbid rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is known to be associated with excess mortality in patients with bronchiectasis. However, whether excess mortality is affected by RA seropositivity and is altered by using disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) remains unknown.

Objectives: To assess the association between comorbid RA and mortality in participants with bronchiectasis, plus the impacts of seropositivity and DMARDs on this association.

Exacerbation and mortality risk in individuals with bronchiectasis post-COVID-19 recovery.

Background: Individuals with bronchiectasis have an increased risk of exacerbation by coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), even after recovery from COVID-19. However, the impact of COVID-19 severity on severe exacerbation and mortality remains uncertain in this population.

Methods: We enrolled 48 342 individuals diagnosed with bronchiectasis between 1 January 2015 and 7 October 2020 from Korea National Health Insurance Service.

Latent Classes of Social Isolation and Adverse Experiences Among South Korean Young Adults: Implications for Depression and Mental Health Interventions.

This study explored the patterns of social isolation and adverse experiences, and their relationship with depression among young adults. Social isolation was considered in two dimensions: internal isolation and external isolation. Data from 550 South Korean young adults, collected in the Survey on the Status of Socially Isolated Youth in Seoul by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, were used for this study.

Impact of seropositivity and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs on pulmonary tuberculosis risk in rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: It remains unclear whether active pulmonary tuberculosis risk is still high in rheumatoid arthritis patients in settings where tuberculosis infection screening is performed before the use of biologicals. Moreover, the impacts of seropositivity and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs on active pulmonary tuberculosis risk should be elucidated.

Methods: The incidence of active pulmonary tuberculosis was compared between patients with rheumatoid arthritis (n=59 577; 41 501 seropositive rheumatoid arthritis and 18 076 seronegative rheumatoid arthritis) and 1:5 age- and sex-matched controls without rheumatoid arthritis (n=297 885) enrolled between 2010 and 2017.

Direct Surface Modification of the Epidermis Using Mussel-Inspired Polydopamine with Multiple Anti-Biofouling Functions.

The surface properties of the epidermis are crucial in pathogen adhesion and proliferation. Moreover, damage to the epidermis caused by various physical and chemical attacks provides a favorable environment for pathogen penetration and proliferation through the exposed internal living tissue. Surface modification of the epidermis to impart anti-biofouling properties can provide effective protection against infections.

Phenotypes and endotypes in bronchiectasis: a narrative review of progress toward precision medicine.

Background And Objective: Bronchiectasis, which was previously regarded as a rare condition, has recently attracted increased attention with advancements in research and therapeutic strategies. However, heterogeneity remains a major challenge in the management of bronchiectasis. This review aims to elucidate the concepts of phenotypes and endotypes, facilitate a deeper understanding of bronchiectasis complexity, and pave the way for personalized treatment approaches.

Identification and Verification of Necroptosis-Related Genes in Patients With Sepsis by Bioinformatic Analysis and Molecular Experiments.

Although necroptosis is an emerging mechanism of multiple organ dysfunction in sepsis, data on the mechanistic link between necroptosis and sepsis are scarce. Bioinformatic analysis was performed to compare the gene profiles between the sepsis (n = 133) and healthy control (n = 12) groups and identify necroptosis-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The identified necroptosis-related DEGs were verified by three-step molecular experiments: (1) quantitative real-time PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; (2) cell culture, transfection and Western blotting; and (3) cytokine array with apoptosis inhibition.

Scaling of nodal resilience and influence in complex dynamical networks.

In complex dynamical networks, the resilience of the individual nodes against perturbation and their influence on the network dynamics are of great interest and have been actively investigated. We consider situations where the coupling dynamics are separable, which arise in certain classes of dynamical processes including epidemic spreading, population dynamics, and regulatory processes, and derive the algebraic scaling relations characterizing the nodal resilience and influence. Utilizing synthetic and empirical networks of different topologies, we numerically verify the scaling associated with the dynamical processes.

Decoding microglial immunometabolism: a new frontier in Alzheimer's disease research.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves a dynamic interaction between neuroinflammation and metabolic dysregulation, where microglia play a central role. These immune cells undergo metabolic reprogramming in response to AD-related pathology, with key genes such as TREM2, APOE, and HIF-1α orchestrating these processes. Microglial metabolism adapts to environmental stimuli, shifting between oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis.

Impact of physical activity on all-cause mortality in individuals with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.

Background: Little information is available regarding whether active physical activity lowers mortality risk in individuals with bronchiectasis.

Methods: We used the Korean National Health Insurance Service database from 2010 to 2016 to evaluate the association between changes in physical activity and mortality risk in individuals with bronchiectasis. Of 552,510 individuals with newly diagnosed bronchiectasis, we enrolled 165,842 individuals who had two consecutive health examinations before and after bronchiectasis diagnosis, within two years, as the study aimed to measure changes in exercise habits between the two time points.

Metabolic Reprogramming in Primary Microglial Cell and Extracellular Vesicle Triggered by Aβ Exposure.

Microglia, key immune cells in the brain, play a pivotal role in brain homeostasis and immune responses. Emerging evidence suggests their critical involvement in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis and propagation. The propagation of AD pathology is related to the extracellular matrix of microglia, including extracellular vesicles (EV).

25-Hydroxycholesterol modulates microglial function and exacerbates Alzheimer's disease pathology: mechanistic insights and therapeutic potential of cholesterol esterification inhibition.

This study investigates the role of 25-hydroxycholesterol (25HC), a metabolite produced by cholesterol hydroxylase encoded by the Ch25h gene, in modulating microglial function and its potential implications in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. We demonstrated that 25HC impairs microglial surveillance, reduces phagocytic capacity, and increases the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In vivo two-photon microscopy revealed that 25HC administration diminishes microglial response to brain lesions, while flow cytometry confirmed reduced phagocytosis in both in vivo and in vitro models.

Association between rheumatoid arthritis and interstitial lung disease and impact of serologic status: a large-scale longitudinal study.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) leads to worse outcomes in subjects with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Few large-scale longitudinal studies have provided comprehensive data on the incidence and risk of ILD in RA compared with non-RA populations. We compare the risk of incident ILD in subjects with RA and matched controls, while also evaluating the impact of RA serologic status.

Assessment of Home-based Monitoring in Adults with Chronic Lung Disease: An Official American Thoracic Society Research Statement.

There is increasing interest in the use of home-based monitoring in people with chronic lung diseases to improve access to care, support patient self-management, and facilitate the collection of information for clinical care and research. However, integration of home-based monitoring into clinical and research settings requires careful consideration of test performance and other attributes. There is no published guidance from professional respiratory societies to advance the science of home-based monitoring for chronic lung disease.

A worldwide perspective of long COVID management: how can we END-COVID?

https://bit.ly/4dVTJ2t.

Clinical Efficacy of Serum Antiglycopeptidolipid Core IgA Antibody Test for Screening Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease in Bronchiectasis: A European Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background: The serum antiglycopeptidolipid core IgA antibody test has been proposed as a diagnostic tool for Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary diseases. Cross-reactivity with other nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), including Mycobacterium abscessus, indicates that it may have a role as a broader screening test for nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD). NTM-PD is believed to be underdiagnosed in patients with bronchiectasis.

Bronchiectasis in Asia: a review of current status and challenges.

Recent bronchiectasis studies from large-scale multinational, multicentre registries have demonstrated that the characteristics of the disease vary according to geographic region. However, most perspectives on bronchiectasis are dominated by data from Western countries. This review intends to provide an Asian perspective on the disease, focusing on the established registries in India, Korea and China.

The impact of pulmonary tuberculosis on SARS-CoV-2 infection: a nationwide cohort study.

Background: The interaction between COVID-19 and tuberculosis (TB) is not yet fully understood, and large-scale research on the mortality outcome of such dual infection has been limited. This study aimed to investigate the impact of PTB on mortality among patients with COVID-19 within a Korean population by conducting an extensive analysis of a nationwide large dataset.

Method: We investigated the mortality and disease severity among COVID-19 patients who had PTB in South Korea.

Increased bronchiectasis risk and related risk factors in inflammatory bowel disease: a 10-year Korean national cohort study.

Background: The association between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and an increased risk of bronchiectasis, as well as contributing factors, remains unclear. Additionally, whether bronchiectasis increases disease burden in IBD remains unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to: 1) assess whether IBD increases the risk of incident bronchiectasis; 2) compare the risk of bronchiectasis between individuals with Crohn's disease (CD) and those with ulcerative colitis (UC); 3) identify risk factors for bronchiectasis in individuals with IBD; and 4) examine the disease burden in individuals with IBD and bronchiectasis those without.

Microglia Gravitate toward Amyloid Plaques Surrounded by Externalized Phosphatidylserine via TREM2.

Microglia play a crucial role in synaptic elimination by engulfing dystrophic neurons via triggering receptors expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2). They are also involved in the clearance of beta-amyloid (Aβ) plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD); nonetheless, the driving force behind TREM2-mediated phagocytosis of beta-amyloid (Aβ) plaques remains unknown. Here, using advanced 2D/3D/4D co-culture systems with loss-of-function mutations in TREM2 (a frameshift mutation engineered in exon 2) brain organoids/microglia/assembloids, it is identified that the clearance of Aβ via TREM2 is accelerated by externalized phosphatidylserine (ePtdSer) generated from dystrophic neurons surrounding the Aβ plaques.

Effects of work environments on satisfaction of nurses working for integrated care system in South Korea: a multisite cross-sectional investigation.

Background: Nurses' satisfaction has an impact on organizational and patient outcomes. Integrated care system in South Korea was established in 2015 to improve care quality and decrease caregiving burden. Since then, nurses' satisfaction has increased due to an increase in nursing staffing.