Synergistic improvement of biohydrogen yield from food wastewater using Clostridium puniceum and magnetite-biochar.

Biohydrogen production using waste resources and microorganisms was gaining attention as a clean energy alternative that could reduce production cost and environmental pollution. Among waste resources, food wastewater (FW) was especially suitable due to its high lactate content, which supported microbial hydrogen production. However, FW also contained inhibitory compounds that could limit microbial activity.

Rapid Screening of Methicillin-Resistant Using MALDI-TOF MS and Machine Learning: A Randomized, Multicenter Study.

Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) is a major cause of healthcare-associated infections including bacteremia. The rapid detection of MRSA is essential for prompt treatment and improved outcomes. However, traditional MRSA screening and confirmatory tests based on bacterial cultures with antimicrobial susceptibility tests and/or molecular diagnostics are time-consuming (>2 days), labor-intensive, and costly.

Bakuchiol kills persisters and potentiates colistin activity against persisters.

Infections associated with bacterial persisters are challenging to cure because they can evade antibiotics and regrow, often resulting in relapse. Current antibiotics are not optimized to target persisters, highlighting the urgent need for new therapeutics. Here, we report that bakuchiol, a plant-derived natural product, exhibits anti-persister and adjuvant properties.

Bioengineered Approaches for Esophageal Regeneration: Advancing Esophageal Cancer Therapy.

Esophageal cancer (EC) is the eighth leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, largely due to its late-stage diagnosis and aggressive progression. Esophagectomy remains the primary treatment, typically requiring organ-based reconstruction techniques such as gastric pull-up or colonic interposition. However, these reconstruction methods often lead to severe complications, significantly reducing the quality of life of patients.

Increase in Sapovirus Infection in Korea After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Six-and-a-half-year Retrospective Study.

Background: Sapovirus is an increasingly recognized cause of acute gastroenteritis (AGE). Despite its significance, data on sapovirus epidemiology and genetic diversity in Korea are limited. Therefore, we examined sapovirus positivity rates over a 6.

Establishment of a Multilocus Sequence Typing Scheme for Using Isolates from Infected Humans and Diseased Companion Animals.

Background: Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) is well-established for but remains undeveloped for . We established MLST for using isolates from humans and companion animals in Japan and Korea to gain insights into its population biology.

Methods: We analyzed 39 and 22 isolates from companion animals and humans, respectively.

Comparison of effect and mechanism between nalfurafine hydrochloride and narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy in the treatment of pruritus in hemodialysis patients.

Objectives: Pruritus in hemodialysis patients (HDP) is one of the serious complications associated with the quality of life and psychiatric disorder of patients. The narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy (NB-UVB) treatment showed a statistically significant reduction of itching when performed more than 4 times compared to conservative treatment for itching, and the difference was confirmed to increase with repetition. We aim to compare newly developed Nalfuranfine HCL, kappa-opioid receptor agonist, with NB-UVB in HDP.

High-Yield Production of Polyhydroxybutyrate and Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate--3-hydroxyhexanoate) from Crude Glycerol by a Newly Isolated Species Oh_219.

Crude glycerol (CG), a major biodiesel production by-product, is the focus of ongoing research to convert it into polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). However, few bacterial strains are capable of efficiently achieving this conversion. Here, 10 PHA-producing strains were isolated from various media.

Towards Meaningful Interpretation of Molecular Data: Insights Gained from HMMD Challenges in Detection for Future NGS Integration in Clinical Microbiology.

With advancements in molecular diagnostics, including Highly Multiplexed Microbiological/Medical Countermeasure Diagnostic Devices (HMMDs) and the impending integration of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) into clinical microbiology, interpreting the flood of nucleic acid data in a clinically meaningful way has become a crucial challenge. This study focuses on the Luminex xTAG Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel (GPP) for detection, evaluating the impact of MFI threshold adjustments on diagnostic accuracy and exploring the need for an "indeterminate" result category to enhance clinical utility in molecular diagnostics. A retrospective review of -positive cases detected via the Luminex xTAG GPP was conducted from June 2016 to November 2023.

A 3D-Printed Aqueous Drainage Tube with an Expandable Inner Diameter to Accommodate the Intraocular Pressure (IOP) Fluctuations After Glaucoma Surgery.

Glaucoma treatment involves reducing the intraocular pressure (IOP), which can damage the optic nerve, to a normal range. Aqueous drainage devices may be used for treatment, and a variety of devices have been proposed. However, they have a non-variable and uniform inner diameter, which makes it difficult to accommodate the IOP fluctuations that occur after glaucoma surgery.

Surge of human astrovirus type 1 infection in summer 2022 in Korea.

As astroviral infection rapidly increased in the summer of 2022 in Korea, this study aimed to determine the cause and genotype of astroviruses during this period. From January to December 2022, we tested 43,312 stool samples from patients with acute gastroenteritis utilizing multiplex PCR to detect HAstV. For the HAstV-positive samples, we determined the genotypes of the HAstVs by PCR and sequencing.

Streptococcus canis transcriptomic modifications in host cell entry environments of human keratinocytes.

Background: Streptococcus canis is a commensal bacterium in companion animals. This microorganism can infect humans who have been in deep contact with or bitten by pet dogs, suggesting that the skin/soft tissue is one of infection entry sites. To understand pathological process in human cells, we aimed to determine S.

Pasteurella Infections in South Korea and Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Pasteurella Bacteremia.

Pasteurella spp. can cause fatal zoonotic infections in humans. We performed a multicenter study to investigate the prevalence and clinical features of Pasteurella infections in South Korea during 2018‒2022.

Clinical and pathological significance of Orai1 channel expression in human diabetic nephropathy.

Background: Targeted therapies for diabetic nephropathy (DN) are lacking, partly due to their irreversible nature. The role of Orai1, a store-operated Ca2+ channel, in DN remains debated, with conflicting evidence on its effect on proteinuria in animal models. We aimed to elucidate the functional relevance of Orai1 expression for clinicopathological parameters in patients with DN.

Clinical performance of the Roche Cobas Liat SARS-CoV-2 & influenza A/B assay: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Respiratory tract infections caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and influenza viruses are persistent and critical. The Cobas Liat SARS-CoV-2 & influenza A/B assay (Multiplex Liat), the FDA-authorized point-of-care reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay, has a turnaround time of 20 min and high accuracy. This study evaluates the pooled performance of this assay to provide practical information.

Genetic organization of an M protein trans-acting positive regulator (Mga) orthologue and its adjacent M-like protein (SCM) alleles in Streptococcus canis.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the M protein trans-acting positive regulator (Mga) orthologue and its adjacent M-like protein (SCM) alleles in Streptococcus canis.

Results: Using the 39 SCM allele isolates and polymerase chain reaction-based amplification and sequencing, we obtained the deduced Mga amino acid (AA) sequences. The 22 Mga sequences in whole-genome sequences were obtained by searching the National Collection of Type Cultures 12,191(T) Mga sequence into the database.

Anticoagulation in patients with end-stage kidney disease and atrial fibrillation: a national population-based study.

Background: The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is high and increasing. However, evidence regarding oral anticoagulant (OAC) use in these patients is insufficient and conflicting.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients in the Korea National Health Insurance System diagnosed with AF after ESKD onset from January 2007 to December 2017.

The mediating role of the left ventricular mass index on the relationship between the fluid balance and left ventricular diastolic function in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Background: The pathophysiological mechanism of cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is complicated. Mediation analysis is an important statistical tool for gaining insight into the complex mechanisms of exposure-outcome effects. We investigated the potential mediating role of the left ventricular mass index (LVMI) on the association between fluid balance (overhydration/extracellular water, OH/ECW) and left ventricular diastolic function (E/e´ ratio) in patients with CKD not yet on dialysis.

The moderating effect of fluid overload on the relationship between the augmentation index and left ventricular diastolic function in patients with CKD.

Increased vascular stiffness, fluid overload, and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) are common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We investigated the potential moderating effect of volume status in the relationship between arterial stiffness and left ventricular (LV) diastolic function in non-dialysis patients with stage 5 CKD. The radial augmentation index at a heart rate of 75 beats/min (rAIx75), overhydration/extracellular water (OH/ECW), and E/e´ ratio were concurrently measured in 152 consecutive patients.

Development of fluorescence-linked immunosorbent assay for rapid detection of Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus is a major pathogen that causes infections and life-threatening diseases. Although antibiotics, such as methicillin, have been used, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) causes high morbidity and mortality rates, and conventional detection methods are difficult to be used because of time-consuming process.

A Methylazanediyl Bisacetamide Derivative Sensitizes Staphylococcus aureus Persisters to a Combination of Gentamicin And Daptomycin.

Infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, notably methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), pose treatment challenges due to its ability to tolerate antibiotics and develop antibiotic resistance. The former, a mechanism independent of genetic changes, allows bacteria to withstand antibiotics by altering metabolic processes.

Performance Evaluation of the Roche Cobas 5800 HBV and HCV Tests: Comparison of the 200 and 500 μL Protocols.

Background: Clinical management of patients infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) relies on the viral load (VL). The Cobas 5800 system (Roche Diagnostics) can determine VLs in 200 and 500 μL samples, but the performance of each protocol has not been compared. We evaluated the performance of both protocols for the HBV and HCV tests.