Barriers and opportunities in biobank utilization: insights from a 3-year repeated cross-sectional survey of the Female Breast and Genital Disease with Microbiome Biobank Network in South Korea.

Background: This study aimed to document the patterns, challenges, and opportunities for biobank utilization within the Female Breast and Genital Disease with Microbiome Biobank Network (FDMNet) in South Korea. Annual surveys (2022-2024) assessed researcher awareness, utilization patterns, barriers to access, research requirements, and interest in microbiome research.

Methods: Online questionnaires were distributed to staff members at five university hospitals participating in FDMNet.

Mitochondrial myopathy revealed postoperative acute respiratory failure: A case report.

Background: Mitochondrial myopathies are characterized by primary dysfunction of the mitochondrial respiratory chain; they typically present as chronic muscle weakness. Clinically visible acute respiratory dysfunctions associated with mitochondrial myopathies occur rarely.

Case Summary: In this report, we present the case of a patient who developed postoperative hypoventilation after undergoing an uneventful administration of general anesthesia.

Kidney replacement therapy during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: pathophysiology, technical considerations, and outcomes.

The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation has been increasing over time, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst lifesaving, complications that must be managed are also associated with its use. AKI and fluid overload are complications of concern due to their associations with poor outcomes, and ability to be managed by additional interventions such as the use of kidney replacement therapy.

Left ventricular unloading and survival outcomes in pediatric acute fulminant myocarditis patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BackgroundAcute fulminant myocarditis (AFM) is a severe condition in pediatric patients. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is often used as a supportive therapy, but survival rates and the impact of adjunctive therapies like left ventricular (LV) unloading and bridge-to-heart transplantation remain unclear. This meta-analysis evaluates survival outcomes in pediatric AFM patients treated with ECMO and assesses the influence of these strategies.

Gintonin Binds to Reduced LPA4 Receptor Subtype in Human Cortical Neurons in Alzheimer's Disease Brains.

Ginseng, a traditional herbal medicine with a long history of use, is known to support human health, particularly by influencing brain function. Recent studies have identified gintonin, a lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor ligand derived from ginseng, as a key bioactive. However, the specific LPA receptor subtypes targeted by gintonin in the human brain to exert its anti-Alzheimer's (AD) effects remain unclear.

A Comparative Study Between Cold Static Storage and Normothermic Ex-Situ Donor Heart Preservation in a Rat Model of Heterotopic Heart Transplantation.

Introduction: Cold static storage (CSS) and normothermic ex-situ preservation are the most widely used donor heart preservation techniques worldwide. The current study compares both CSS and normothermic ex-situ preservation methods in terms of graft performance, morphologic changes, and acute immune response in an experimental model.

Method And Materials: Twenty rats underwent heterotopic abdominal heart transplantation after 2 h of CSS (group 1; n = 10) or normothermic ex-situ perfusion (group 2; n = 10).

Early management of adult sepsis and septic shock: Korean clinical practice guidelines.

Background: Despite recent advances and global improvements in sepsis recognition and supportive care, mortality rates remain high, and adherence to sepsis bundle components in Korea is low. To address this, the Korean Sepsis Alliance, affiliated with the Korean Society of Critical Care Medicine, developed the first sepsis treatment guidelines for Korea based on a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: A de novo method was used to develop the guidelines.

Mefloquine-induced conformational shift in Cx36 N-terminal helix leading to channel closure mediated by lipid bilayer.

Connexin 36 (Cx36) forms interneuronal gap junctions, establishing electrical synapses for rapid synaptic transmission. In disease conditions, inhibiting Cx36 gap junction channels (GJCs) is beneficial, as it prevents abnormal synchronous neuronal firing and apoptotic signal propagation, mitigating seizures and progressive cell death. Here, we present cryo-electron microscopy structures of human Cx36 GJC in complex with known channel inhibitors, such as mefloquine, arachidonic acid, and 1-hexanol.

Severe Pneumonia in PICU Admissions: The Pediatric Acute and Critical Care Medicine Asian Network (PACCMAN) Observational Cohort Study, 2020-2022.

Objectives: Mortality from pneumonia is three times higher in Asia compared with industrialized countries. We aimed to determine the epidemiology, microbiology, and outcome of severe pneumonia in PICUs across the Pediatric Acute and Critical Care Medicine Asian Network (PACCMAN).

Design: Prospective multicenter observational study from June 2020 to September 2022.

Newly Developed Sex-Specific Z Score Model for Coronary Artery Diameter in a Pediatric Population.

Background: This study aimed to generate a Z score calculation model for coronary artery diameter of normal children and adolescents to be adopted as the standard calculation method with consensus in clinical practice.

Methods: This study was a retrospective, multicenter study that collected data from multiple institutions across South Korea. Data were analyzed to determine the model that best fit the relationship between the diameter of coronary arteries and independent demographic parameters.

Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Korea: A Multicenter Retrospective Study on Utilization and Outcomes Spanning Over a Decade.

Background: Over the last decade, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) use in critically ill children has increased and is associated with favorable outcomes. Our study aims to evaluate the current status of pediatric ECMO in Korea, with a specific focus on its volume and changes in survival rates based on diagnostic indications.

Methods: This multicenter study retrospectively analyzed the indications and outcomes of pediatric ECMO over 10 years in patients at 14 hospitals in Korea from January 2012 to December 2021.

Intradural Extramedullary Ependymoma with Hemorrhage: A Case Report.

In adults, spinal ependymomas are usually found in intramedullary locations. However, intradural extramedullary spinal ependymomas are rare. Additionally, spinal ependymomas usually show iso to hypointensity on T1-weighted images without hemorrhage.

A selective ER-phagy exerts neuroprotective effects via modulation of α-synuclein clearance in parkinsonian models.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is selectively degraded by ER-phagy to maintain cell homeostasis. α-synuclein accumulates in the ER, causing ER stress that contributes to neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD), but the role of ER-phagy in α-synuclein modulation is largely unknown. Here, we investigated the mechanisms by which ER-phagy selectively recognizes α-synuclein for degradation in the ER.

Rat Model of Normothermic Ex-Situ Perfused Heterotopic Heart Transplantation.

Heart transplantation is the most effective therapy for end-stage heart failure. Despite the improvements in therapeutic approaches and interventions, the number of heart failure patients waiting for transplantation is still increasing. The normothermic ex situ preservation technique has been established as a comparable method to the conventional static cold storage technique.

Hypoalbuminemia and Albumin Replacement during Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Patients with Cardiogenic Shock.

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been widely used in patients with cardiorespiratory failure. The serum albumin level is an important prognostic marker in critically ill patients. We evaluated the efficacy of using pre-ECMO serum albumin levels to predict 30-day mortality in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) who underwent venoarterial (VA) ECMO.

Extracorporeal circulation models in small animals: beyond the limits of preclinical research.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) use has remarkably increased in recent years. Although ECMO has become essential for patients with refractory cardiac and respiratory failure, extracorporeal circulation (ECC) is associated with significant complications. Small-animal models of ECC have been developed and widely used to better understand ECC-induced pathophysiology.

Cryo-EM structures of human Cx36/GJD2 neuronal gap junction channel.

Connexin 36 (Cx36) is responsible for signal transmission in electrical synapses by forming interneuronal gap junctions. Despite the critical role of Cx36 in normal brain function, the molecular architecture of the Cx36 gap junction channel (GJC) is unknown. Here, we determine cryo-electron microscopy structures of Cx36 GJC at 2.

Frequency of serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC) in patients with high grade serous ovarian cancer.

Objective: Serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC) is a known precursor of high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). This study aimed to evaluate the proportion of STIC in patients with HGSOC and analyze the STIC-related prognosis in patients with HGSOC.

Materials And Methods: All pathology reports at our institution that included bilateral salpingectomies of patients with HGSOC from January 2013 to December 2018 were reviewed by two experienced pathologists.

Paediatric COVID-19 mortality: a database analysis of the impact of health resource disparity.

Background: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on paediatric populations varied between high-income countries (HICs) versus low-income to middle-income countries (LMICs). We sought to investigate differences in paediatric clinical outcomes and identify factors contributing to disparity between countries.

Methods: The International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infections Consortium (ISARIC) COVID-19 database was queried to include children under 19 years of age admitted to hospital from January 2020 to April 2021 with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis.

Combined effects of sepsis and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation on left ventricular performance in a murine model.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may be a viable salvage therapy in selected patients with septic shock. As ECMO use increases, we studied left ventricular (LV) performance during sepsis with and without ECMO using a pressure-volume (PV) loop in a murine model and aimed to understand LV hemodynamics in septic shock with ECMO. The rats were divided into Group 1 (ECMO applied to healthy rats), Group 2 (ECMO for septic rats), Group 3 (Controls, n = 20) and Group 4 (Sepsis induction only, n = 20).