Identification and Characterization of Five Previously Unrecorded Species of Subgenus Isolated in Korea.

In a survey of freshwater and near-freshwater soils in Chungbuk, Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Gyeongbuk, and Gyeongnam provinces in Korea, seven fungal strains were isolated and identified as members of the genus based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions sequence analyses. Identification was performed through observing morphological characteristics and conducting phylogenetic analyses based on concatenated partial ITS, β-tubulin, calmodulin, and RNA polymerase II subunit gene sequences. The phylogenetic analyses revealed that strain NNIBRFG6577 was distinct from known species, and based on morphological comparisons with the closest related species, CGMCC 3.

Human YKL-40 antibody alleviates atopic dermatitis-like skin inflammation by inhibiting exosome secretion via the JAK3/STAT6 pathway.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease that produces a variety of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1, YKL-40) significantly contributes to AD-associated inflammatory response and is highly expressed in patients with AD. Therefore, this study elucidated the effects and potential mechanisms of human YKL-40 antibody on AD-affected skin.

Calcifications Affect Pathologic Complete Response and MRI Prediction after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-positive Breast Cancer.

Background The optimal surgical management of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer with calcifications remains controversial, particularly when pathologic complete response (pCR) is suspected. Purpose To identify factors associated with pCR after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer and assess whether calcifications affect the performance of radiologic complete response (rCR) at MRI for predicting pCR. Materials and Methods This retrospective study included patients with HER2-positive breast cancer who received neoadjuvant docetaxel, carboplatin, trastuzumab, and pertuzumab and underwent surgery between January 2021 and October 2023.

Thunberg root extract inhibits atopic dermatitis-like skin symptoms.

Thunberg is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus that belongs to the Apiaceae family and is effective in improving inflammation, gout, and dizziness. However, the skin pruritus improvement effect and mechanism of action of Thunberg root extract (PJRE) have not yet been reported. We investigated the effects of PJRE on the regulation of pruritus and inflammatory responses in compound 48/80 (C48/80)-treated mice, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)/A23187-induced human skin mast cells, and LPS-stimulated mouse macrophages.