Human cytomegalovirus long non-coding RNA counteracts nuclear cGAS to facilitate immune evasion.

Viruses have evolved diverse immune evasion strategies, including the targeting of host pattern recognition receptors. The role of viral non-coding RNAs in modulating pattern recognition receptor activity is unclear. Here we show that human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) produces long non-coding RNA4.

Metal-Based Regenerative Strategies for Peripheral Nerve Injuries: From Biodegradable Ion Source to Stable Conductive Implants.

Peripheral nerve injury is a common health issue in modern aging societies, with the only treatment available being autograft transplantation. Unfortunately, autograft is often limited due to donor availability and immune rejection. Additionally, the peripheral nervous system has limited regenerative capacity, making the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries challenging.

Exposure assessment and carcinogenic risk characterization of industrial chemical emissions in incheon, South Korea.

Rapid industrialization has intensified chemical emissions, raising urgent concerns about carcinogenic risks to surrounding communities. This study assessed the spatial distribution of industrial facilities emitting chemicals in Incheon Metropolitan City, South Korea, with a particular focus on Group 1 carcinogens. Using Geographic Information System (GIS) and multimedia exposure model (SimpleBox), we estimated exposure levels and cancer risks for residents within a 1-km radius of industrial facilities.

Factors Affecting Urogenital Health Behaviors in Women Serving in the Korean Military: A Mixed Methods Study.

Background: Although women serving in the Korean military are steadily increasing, little is known on the status and related factors of their urogenital health behaviors (UHB), especially during field training. This study aims to identify UHB status and its affecting factors among female military personnel in South Korea.

Materials And Methods: An exploratory sequential mixed methods design was used.

Impact of Virtual Reality-Based Biofeedback on Sleep Quality Among Individuals With Depressive Symptoms, Anxiety Symptoms, or Both: 4-Week Randomized Controlled Study.

Background: Use of virtual reality (VR)-based biofeedback (BF) represents an emerging nonpharmacological intervention for enhancing sleep quality in individuals exhibiting depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, or both. However, empirical evidence regarding its efficacy in addressing sleep disturbances remains limited and inconclusive.

Objective: This 3-arm randomized controlled trial aimed (1) to compare the efficacy of VR-based BF with conventional BF in improving sleep quality, as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), among individuals with depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, or both (DAS); (2) to examine the effects of VR-based BF in a demographically similar healthy control (HC) group; and (3) to evaluate between-group differences in sleep quality improvements at the 4-week follow-up.

Topographical Patterning of Cell-Repellent Interfaces for Immune-Stealth Implantable Electronics via Multiphoton Ablation Lithography.

Stable and reliable operation of implantable electronics must ensure both high-quality electrical performance and chronic biocompatibility. Here, immune-stealth implantable electronics fabricated by multiphoton ablation lithography are introduced. The cell-repellent interface, consisting of micro-grooves and nano-islands, can be created by laser-assisted topography patterning on a thin film substrate.

Movement and Dispersion Parameters Characterizing the Group Behavior of in Micro-Areas of an Observation Arena.

In the present study, groups of 10 adult males from wild-type strain Canton-S and corresponding mutant were continuously observed using automatic digitization. Data based on instantaneous movement and cumulated movement positions were obtained for micro-areas providing space for resources (food and moisture) and for activity (edge area and intermediate area [between edge and center-diffusion areas]) within the observation arena for 24 h. The results confirmed the natural tendency of local aggregation among individuals within the observation arena (14 cm × 14 cm) at a relatively low density of ten individuals.

Gintonin enhances epithelial barrier function by activating NRF2 pathway in radiation-induced intestinal injury.

Background: Because the intestine is a radio-sensitive organ in the body, and radiation-induced intestinal injury is a major clinical problem associated with radiotherapy or radiological accidents. Dysfunction of the epithelial barrier leads to bacterial translocation to other organs, resulting in severe inflammation. Recent findings suggest that gintonin (GT) suppresses oxidative stress and inflammation in neuroinflammatory diseases.

Bixin alleviates radiation-induced intestinal damage inflammation regulation and barrier recovery.

Purpose: Radiotherapy for cancer treatment or unintentional exposure to ionizing radiation causes severe damage to the unaffected tissues of the digestive system, including gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Radiation exposure leads to an inflammatory response, and uncontrolled inflammation exacerbates radiation-induced tissue injury. Bixin is a liposoluble apocarotenoid isolated from seeds, which effectively attenuates several inflammatory diseases.

Impact of wastewater treatment plants on pesticide contamination in the Yeongsan River basin and prioritization of pesticides in wastewater treatment plant effluents.

Pesticides are widely distributed in the environment, posing significant risks to aquatic organisms, which necessitates effective management. This study aimed to identify priority pesticides originating from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents that pose risks to aquatic environments. Herein, a year-long monitoring of pesticides was conducted across six sites in the Yeongsan River basin and three WWTP effluents.

Overexpression of interleukin-4 using adeno-associated virus is a potential strategy to enhance bone regeneration.

This study aimed to investigate the bone regeneration potential of IL-4 gene delivery via adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors, with a particular focus on modulating macrophage polarization and promoting osteogenic differentiation. Four different AAV serotypes (AAV1, AAV2, AAV5, and AAV6) encoding the IL-4 gene were evaluated in rat and human gingival fibroblasts and dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). AAV2 exhibited the highest transduction efficiency and IL-4 expression in all tested cell types.

Impact of cybersickness and presence on treatment satisfaction and clinical outcomes in virtual reality-based biofeedback for depression and anxiety.

Virtual Reality-Biofeedback (VR-BF) has emerged as a novel digital intervention for reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms. This study aimed to assess the relationship between cybersickness, presence, treatment satisfaction, and symptom change following VR-BF. In this prospective clinical study, 80 drug-naive adults were enrolled and classified into two groups: those with subclinical depressive and anxiety symptoms (n = 40) and healthy controls (n = 40).

Controlled Magnesium Ion Delivery via Mg-Sputtered Nerve Conduit for Enhancing Peripheral Nerve Regeneration.

Autologous nerve grafting remains the gold standard for treating peripheral nerve injuries; however, it is constrained by limited donor nerve availability, the need for secondary surgeries, and sensory loss at the donor site. Biodegradable material-based nerve conduits have emerged as a promising alternative to address these limitations and enhance nerve regeneration. Among these materials, magnesium stands out due to its exceptional biocompatibility, biofunctionality, and neuroprotective properties.

Effects of tianeptine on mTORC1-mediated neuronal autophagy in primary rat hippocampal neurons under nutrient deprivation.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the antidepressant tianeptine on the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1(mTORC1)-mediated autophagy pathway in primary hippocampal neurons exposed to B27-deprived conditions. When primary hippocampal neurons were treated with tianeptine at doses of 1, 10, 50, and 100 µM for 3 days under B27-deprived conditions, we observed that it activated autophagy and increased the formation of autophagosomes through the upregulation of autophagic proteins, including autophagy-activating kinase 1 (ULK1), Beclin 1, LC3B-II/I, and p62. And at a concentration of 100 µM tianeptine, the decrease in mTORC1 phosphorylation induced by B27 deprivation was significantly reversed.

A Computational Analysis Based on Automatic Digitization of Movement Tracks Reveals the Altered Diurnal Behavior of the Western Flower Thrips, , Suppressed in Expression.

The western flower thrips, , a worldwide insect pest with its polyphagous feeding behavior and capacity to transmit viruses, follows a diurnal rhythmicity driven by expression of the circadian clock genes. However, it remained unclear how the clock signal triggers the thrips behaviors. This study posed a hypothesis that the clock signal modulates cGMP-dependent protein kinase () activity to mediate the diurnal behaviors.

The risk of developing depression in tuberculosis survivors: a nationwide cohort study in South Korea.

Background: Despite a high tuberculosis incidence in Korea, the association between tuberculosis and depression remains underexplored. This study aims to assess depression risk in tuberculosis survivors.

Methods: Utilizing South Korea's National Health Insurance Sharing Service (NHISS) database, we conducted a gender-age-matched analysis comparing depression risk between tuberculosis survivors and the general population.

Comparison of Development and Antioxidative Ability in Fertilized Crossbred (Yorkshire × Landrace × Duroc) Oocytes Using Duroc and Landrace Sperm.

Pig production through crossbreeding methods is a pillar of the swine industry; however, research on the fertilization ability of male pigs in crossbreeds is lacking. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of Duroc sperm (DS) and Landrace sperm (LS) on fertility in Yorkshire × Landrace × Duroc (YLD) oocytes. Sperm were collected from the Duroc and Landrace species, and sperm characteristics, viability, and acrosome reactions were analyzed using flow cytometry.

Abdominal Obesity Increases the Risk for Depression by Sex: A Nationwide Cohort Study in South Korea.

Objective: Previous studies have investigated obesity and appetite changes in patients with depression, which consisted of a small age range of adults and used body mass index rather than abdominal obesity. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between abdominal obesity and the risk of depression by sex and age groups.

Methods: This study utilized the National Health Insurance Sharing Service (NHISS) database of South Korea, which includes those over 20 years old and who had undergone a health examination in 2009 and their claims data between 2009 and 2018.

Correction: Park et al. -Mediated EMT Promotes Papillary Thyroid Cancer Malignancy through the ERK/Fra-1/ZEB1 Pathway. 2023, , 274.

[...

A Patient-Specific 3D Printed Lingual Nerve Protector in Third Molar Extraction.

We present a novel, patient-specific 3D-printed lingual nerve protector designed to minimize the risk of nerve injury during mandibular third molar extraction, a common cause of lingual nerve damage. Lingual nerve injuries, often resulting from trauma, dental procedures, or maxillofacial surgeries, lead to significant functional impairments. Using computed tomography (CT) data, the custom protector is fabricated through 3D printing with a self-retaining structure to shield the lingual mucosa and nerve.

The Development and Impact of a Respiratory Patient Care Mobile Application on Nursing Students.

This study aimed to develop a virtual experiential application for respiratory patient care and evaluate its impact on nursing students' knowledge, self-efficacy, clinical practice anxiety, and performance confidence. This application with gamification elements was developed following a structured approach encompassing assessment, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. The experimental group consisted of 21 third-year university students who engaged with the application multiple times a day for 1 week; the control group, comprising 21 students, received traditional prelearning.