Hydrophobic LDH-Tailored Exfoliated Graphene Sheet Energy Harvester: Harnessing Pressure-Driven Heating and Electrolysis for Advanced Real Applications.

Hydrovoltaic harvesting converts water-solid interactions into electricity, offering a sustainable power route across diverse settings. Yet most systems are hard to scale, suffer evaporation-limited lifetimes, and lack multifunctionality, limiting real-world application. To overcome these limitations, a highly optimized multifunctional hydrovoltaic harvester is developed by integrating exfoliated graphene oxide sheet (EGs) and hydrophobic layered double hydroxide (LDH) coatings onto a porous melamine foam scaffold.

Inula britannica exerts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in SH-SY5Y cells through the Nrf2-Keap1 signaling pathway.

The yellow flower of the Asteraceae family, Inula britannica (IB) of have been used as a medicinal herb since ancient times. Modern studies have widely known the anti-inflammatory effects and antioxidant effects of IB. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the neuroprotective effects of IB extract based on its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and to assess its potential for development as a functional material.

Protecting the Frontline: How Paid Sick Leave Access Influences Perceived Risk, Job Stress and Job Satisfaction Among Home Service Workers.

Objective: This study examined whether access to paid sick leave (PSL) for COVID-19 symptoms is associated with lower perceived risk, reduced job stress, and greater job satisfaction.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 1,643 in-home service workers was conducted (response rate: 83%). Path analysis assessed the effects of sick leave type (paid, unpaid, no access, unsure) on perceived risk, job stress, and satisfaction, controlling for demographics and occupation.

Differentiating oncocytic carcinoma from oncocytic adenoma: a comprehensive evaluation of preoperative characteristics and diagnostic approaches in a retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: Oncocytic carcinoma (OCA) has been reclassified from follicular thyroid carcinoma due to its unique features. Its rarity has resulted in limited studies on differentiating OCA from oncocytic adenoma (OA). This study aimed to compare the clinicopathologic and preoperative features of OCA and OA and evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasonography and cytology.

An arginine switch drives the stepwise activation of β-arrestin by CXCR7.

β-arrestins (βarrs) play a crucial role in regulating G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling and trafficking. Canonically, interactions of βarr with the phosphorylated intracellular GPCR-tail induce a multi-step conformational transition that results in the activation of βarr. Depending on the specific interaction pattern with the receptor, βarrs adopt multiple conformational states, each tightly linked to a specific functional outcome of βarr recruitment.

Inhibition of FAM19A5 reverses synaptic loss and cognitive decline in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease.

Background: FAM19A5 is a secretory protein primarily expressed in neurons. Although its role in synaptic function has been suggested, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying its effects at the synapse remain unclear. Given that synaptic loss is a critical hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), elucidating the mechanisms involving FAM19A5 could provide valuable insights into reversing synaptic loss in AD.

Comparisons of pharmacokinetics of glimepiride in combination with Ojeok-san versus glimepiride alone: an open-label, one-sequence, two-treatment controlled clinical study.

Glimepiride remains a cost-effective antidiabetic treatment despite its potential risks. However, its interaction with traditional medicines like Ojeok-san (OJS), a commonly used herbal medication, warrants investigation. This open-label, fixed-sequence, two-period, two-treatment crossover study involved 17 healthy male volunteers.

Idarucizumab more effectively reverses the anticoagulant effects of dabigatran acylglucuronide than dabigatran.

Dabigatran acylglucuronide, an active metabolite of dabigatran, exhibits higher plasma concentrations and distinct anticoagulant effects compared to dabigatran, suggesting that it may play a more significant role in overall anticoagulant activity than previously assumed. Idarucizumab, a monoclonal antibody fragment, binds to both free and thrombin-bound dabigatran, neutralizing its anticoagulant effects. However, its efficacy in reversing anticoagulation induced by dabigatran acylglucuronide remains unclear.

Impact of diabetes and ejection fraction on non-ST-Segment elevation myocardial infarction outcomes.

Given the limited published data, we examined three-year outcomes in patients with and without diabetes mellitus (DM) in non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), according to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). A total of 4594 patients were classified into DM (n = 1608) and non-DM (n = 2986) groups. They were further classified into heart failure with reduced EF (HFrEF, LVEF ≤ 40%), HF with mildly reduced EF (HFmrEF, LVEF 41-49%), and HF with preserved EF (HFpEF, LVEF ≥ 50%) subgroups.

Metagenomic insight into the vaginal microbiome in women infected with HPV 16 and 18.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 and 18 (HPV 16/18) account for over 70% of cervical cancer (CC) cases, yet their interaction with the vaginal microbiome (VM) remains unclear. This study explored the association between high-risk HPV types (HR-HPVs), VM composition and bacterial function using shotgun metagenomic sequencing. In early-stage cervical lesions, the HPV 16/18 group showed reduced Lactobacillus-dominant community state types compared to other HR-HPVs, while invasive CC exhibited increased pathogenic bacteria, including Streptococcus agalactiae, Fannyhessea vaginae, and Sneathia vaginalis.

Safety and Influenza Infections in Children Aged 6-35 Months Receiving Cell Culture-Derived Inactivated Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine During the 2023-2024 Influenza Season in South Korea.

Background/objectives: Influenza poses a significant risk for young children, particularly those under five. Cell culture-derived influenza vaccines offer advantages in reducing adaptive changes and mitigating egg allergy concerns. SKYCellflu quadrivalent has been in use since 2015, and this study aimed to assess its safety and influenza infections in children aged 6-35 months in South Korea.

The Role of EMP2 in Triple-negative Breast Cancer.

Background/aim: The poor prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is largely due to the lack of targeted therapies, as a result of the absence of estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors. Our previous studies highlighted Del-1 as a potential therapeutic target and biomarker for TNBC. This study further explores molecules regulated by Del-1 through transcriptomic analysis.

A cluster attention-based multiple instance learning network for enhancing histopathological image interpretation.

Background: Histopathological diagnosis involves examining abnormal architectural patterns and cellular-level changes. Whole slide images (WSIs) provide comprehensive digital representations of tissue samples, enabling detailed analysis and interpretation. Annotating the giga-pixel images remains labor-intensive, requiring experts to label abnormal patterns and cellular changes.

Urinary apolipoprotein A4 as a biomarker for renal allograft injury in kidney transplant recipients.

Chronic renal allograft injury (CRAI) is a major cause of allograft loss in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations of urinary apolipoprotein A4 (ApoA-IV) levels with renal function and rapid renal function decline in KTRs. This study included 50 KTRs.

Risk of and factors influencing the progression from acute to recurrent acute to chronic pancreatitis.

Objectives & Aims: Acute pancreatitis (AP) recurrence rates range from 11 to 36 % yet accurately predicting recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP) and its progression to chronic pancreatitis (CP) after an initial episode remains challenging. Thus, this study explored the risk factors contributing to RAP and its progression to CP.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients with AP from three tertiary medical centers between January 2010 and December 2017.

Population-specific exposure risks from parabens and antimicrobials in cosmetics and personal care products: Insights from Korean usage patterns.

The use of cosmetics and personal care products (CPCPs) is a significant source of human exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). However, few studies have investigated EDC exposure through CPCP use based on realistic exposure factors of diverse population groups. In this study, 13 parabens and two antimicrobial agents were measured in 261 CPCPs categorized as leave-on, rinse-off, and baby care products.

Dendranthema oreastrum (Hance) Y.Ling Attenuates Oxidative Stress and Airway Inflammation in a Murine Model of Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury.

We examined the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of the methanolic extract of Dendranthema oreastrum (Hance) Y.Ling, commonly known as "Gu-Jeol-Cho" in Korea and widely found across East Asia, using an LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI) mouse model and TNF-α-stimulated NCI-H292 cells. LPS was intratracheally administered at 20 μg/50 μL/mouse for 3 days.

Clinical characteristics of pneumonia in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Limited research exists on pneumonia (PJP) in hemodialysis (HD) patients. This retrospective study aimed to compare clinical features and outcomes of PJP in HD and non-HD patients.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 10 HD PJP cases and 40 non-HD PJP cases which were matched propensity scoring.

Predicting ICU Admission Risk in Children with Respiratory Syncytial Virus.

Introduction: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common infection in young children and a frequent cause of hospitalization. In some cases, RSV can lead to severe lower respiratory tract illness requiring admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Here, we explore risk factors for RSV-related ICU admission in children.

var. leaves ameliorate inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in PPE/LPS-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease mouse model.

: var. (SP) is a known medical food that is used to treat emesis, malaria, and fever. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of SP leaf extract on oxidative stress and airway inflammation using a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) mouse model induced by porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Longitudinal Examination of Stress and Depression in Older Adults Over a 2-Year Period: Moderation Effect of Varied Social Support Measures.

Depressive symptoms and stress exposure fluctuate over time in community-dwelling older adults, but they are frequently assessed using one-time retrospective self-report measures. Social support viewed as a multifaceted construct can play diverse moderating roles in this association although it is typically gauged through the measure of perceived social support. This study aims to explore the relationships between stress, social support, and depressive symptoms among older adults by utilizing the longitudinal data collected through a smartphone application and supplemented by annual face-to-face interviews conducted over a 2-year period.

Recent advances in the Design-Build-Test-Learn (DBTL) cycle for systems metabolic engineering of Corynebacterium glutamicum.

Existing microbial engineering strategies-encompassing metabolic engineering, systems biology, and systems metabolic engineering-have significantly enhanced the potential of microbial cell factories as sustainable alternatives to the petrochemical industry by optimizing metabolic pathways. Recently, systems metabolic engineering, which integrates tools from synthetic biology, enzyme engineering, omics technology, and evolutionary engineering, has been successfully developed. By leveraging modern engineering strategies within the Design-Build-Test-Learn (DBTL) cycle framework, these advancements have revolutionized the biosynthesis of valuable compounds.

Antioxidant and Immunostimulatory Effects of Lactobacillus Strains in RAW 264.7 Macrophages via NF-κB and MAPK Signaling Pathways.

Modern stressors such as stress, irregular lifestyles, lack of exercise, and poor eating habits weaken immunity, thereby increasing susceptibility to infections and chronic diseases. Probiotics are functional ingredients that regulate gut microbiota, enhance immune function, and reduce oxidative stress. In this study, we identified novel probiotic candidates with antioxidant and immunostimulatory properties.

The Humoral Immune Response Against COVID-19 Through Vaccination in Hemodialysis Patients.

Background: This study investigated the humoral responses to SARS-CoV-2 in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The clearance of molecules in the blood during hemodialysis is influenced by factors such as filter pore size, flow rate, operating pressure, and treatment duration. Chronic kidney disease patients often show low antibody titers for pathogens like pneumococcus, influenza virus, and hepatitis B virus.