Effects of driving simulator intervention on post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms after traffic accidents: A single-subject study.

Background: Although exposure therapy is a proven treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), empirical research is difficult due to ethical issues. Recently, virtual reality-based content that can provide space and time similar to reality for exposure therapy techniques is increasing.

Aim: To examine exposure therapy using driving simulations in patients with PTSD due to traffic accidents with PTSD symptoms.

Mechanosignaling and 3D morphological adaptation of MSCs in response to hydrogel rigidity underpin angiogenic and immunomodulatory efficacy for ischemic injury regeneration.

Activating angiogenic and immunomodulatory potential of stem cells through optimized cultivation strategies presents significant opportunities for cell-based tissue therapeutics. Among others, hydrogels with tunable chemo-mechanical properties offer optimal 3D environments for stem cell functions. Here, we report rigidity sensing and mechanoresponses of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in 3D hydrogels drive therapeutic effects in ischemic injury.

3D Printing for Energy Storage Devices: Advances, Challenges, and Future Directions.

3D printing (3DP) has emerged as a transformative technology for the fabrication of electrochemical energy storage devices (EESDs), offering unprecedented advantages in design freedom, shape conformality, and material versatility. Unlike previous reviews that narrowly focus on specific materials or device types, this review offers a comprehensive and integrative perspective on the role of 3DP across the full architecture of EESDs, including batteries, supercapacitors, and fuel cells. Recent advances are highlighted in ink formulation strategies tailored for electrochemical functionality, advanced printing techniques enabling microscale precision and structural complexity, and the integration of printed components into functional devices.

Wearable PEDOT:PSS/DVS-Coated Yarn-Type Transpiration-Driven Electrokinetic Power Generator with High Power Efficiency and Water Stability.

Hydrovoltaic nanogenerators, which harness small quantities of water to generate power, are gaining considerable attention for applications in next-generation wearable electronics. Conventional hydrovoltaic nanogenerators are constrained by their limited power density and suboptimal long-term stability. Therefore, a transpiration-driven electrokinetic power generator (TEPG) based on silk yarn coated with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)/divinyl sulfone (DVS) and designed as a wearable hydrovoltaic nanogenerator offering outstanding power generation efficiency and water stability is presented in this study.

International comparison of generic competition, prices, and usage trends: South Korea and G20 countries.

Introduction: While many countries have successfully promoted generic drug use, South Korea faces challenges with low utilization and high expenditure shares, despite various policy reforms. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of generic drug policies in South Korea, by comparing the prices, competition, and usage trends of generic drugs between South Korea and the Group of Twenty (G20) countries.

Methods: We analyzed 26 off-patent active ingredients marketed in South Korea and G20 countries from 2014 to 2023.

Troubleshooting Carbon Nanotube Bundling Using Electrostatic Energy-Driven Dispersion for LiFePO Bimodal Thick Electrode in Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Interest in using thick LiFePO cathodes to enhance lithium-ion battery energy density has recently been growing. To obtain thick cathodes with superior electrical conductivity throughout their depth, it is crucial to substitute conventional zero-dimensional conductive agents with one-dimensional carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Nevertheless, the inherent properties of CNT, including their high aspect ratio and strong van der Waals interaction, hinder uniform dispersion, causing poor performance in thick electrodes.

Ovarian Function Restoration with Biomimetic Scaffold Incorporating Angiogenic Molecules and Antioxidant in Chemotherapy-Induced Perimenopausal Model.

Chemotherapy-induced premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a major cause of infertility and hormonal imbalance in young female cancer survivors. In this study, developed a biomimetic scaffold is developed that incorporates polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) and melatonin to restore ovarian function. The scaffold is designed to mimic the ovarian extracellular matrix (ECM), enhancing angiogenesis, promoting antioxidant effects, and reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS).

New drug accessibility and budgetary impact in South Korea: policy challenges and implications.

Background: To compare the accessibility indicators for new drugs in South Korea with those in the United States, Europe, and Japan, and examine the structure of pharmaceutical expenditures in South Korea.

Research Design And Methods: Patient accessibility and budget impacts of new drugs were analyzed using two independent datasets. Accessibility was evaluated for 171 drugs approved between 2013 and 2022 based on reimbursement rates, time to listing post-approval, and international comparisons.

Multifunctional vitamin D-incorporated PLGA scaffold with BMP/VEGF-overexpressed tonsil-derived MSC via CRISPR/Cas9 for bone tissue regeneration.

Guiding endogenous regeneration of bone defects using biomaterials and regenerative medicine is considered an optimal strategy. One of the effective therapeutic approaches involves using transgene-expressed stem cells to treat tissue destruction and replace damaged parts. Among the various gene editing techniques for cells, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) is considered as a promising method owing to the increasing therapeutic potential of cells by targeting specific sites.

Cigarette smoke impairs the hematopoietic supportive property of mesenchymal stem cells via the production of reactive oxygen species and NLRP3 activation.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play important roles in tissue homeostasis by providing a supportive microenvironmental niche for the hematopoietic system. Cigarette smoking induces systemic abnormalities, including an impeded recovery process after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. However, the role of cigarette smoking-mediated alterations in MSC niche function have not been investigated.

Microstructure of the corneal endothelial transition zone in different laboratory animals.

Purpose: To compare the microstructure of the corneal endothelial transition zone in different laboratory animals.

Methods: Flat-mount corneas of rabbits, rats, and mice were stained with Alizarin Red S (ARS) and observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The progenitor cell markers p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), SRY-box transcription factor 9 (SOX9), leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5), telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), and proliferation marker K-67 were examined in the flat-mounted corneas of three laboratory animals using immunofluorescence microscopy.

Therapeutic potential of luteolin-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/modified magnesium hydroxide microsphere in functional thermosensitive hydrogel for treating neuropathic pain.

Neuropathic pain (NP) is a debilitating condition stemming from damage to the somatosensory system frequently caused by nerve injuries or lesions. While existing treatments are widely employed, they often lead to side effects and lack specificity. This study aimed to alleviate NP by developing an innovative sustained-release thermosensitive hydrogel system.

Injectable Microparticle-containing hydrogel with controlled release of bioactive molecules for facial rejuvenation.

The skin is the largest organ and a crucial barrier for protection against various intrinsic and extrinsic factors. As we age, the skin's components become more vulnerable to damage, forming wrinkles. Among different procedures, hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel has been extensively utilized for skin regeneration and reducing wrinkles.

Analogous Design of a Microlayered Silicon Oxide-Based Electrode to the General Electrode Structure for Thin-Film Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Development of miniaturized thin-film lithium-ion batteries (TF-LIBs) using vacuum deposition techniques is crucial for low-scale applications, but addressing low energy density remains a challenge. In this work, structures analogous to SiO-based thin-film electrodes are designed with close resemblance to traditional LIB slurry formulations including active material, conductive agent, and binder. The thin-film is produced using mid-frequency sputtering with a single hybrid target consisting of SiO nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, and polytetrafluoroethylene.

Osteoporotic Bone Regeneration via Plenished Biomimetic PLGA Scaffold with Sequential Release System.

Achieving satisfactory bone tissue regeneration in osteoporotic patients with ordinary biomaterials is challenging because of the decreased bone mineral density and aberrant bone microenvironment. In addressing this issue, a biomimetic scaffold (PMEH/SP), incorporating 4-hexylresorcinol (4HR), and substance P (SP) into the poly(lactic-go-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffold with magnesium hydroxide (M) and extracellular matrix (E) is introduced, enabling the consecutive release of bioactive agents. 4HR and SP induced the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and ERK in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), thereby upregulating VEGF expression level.

Zaluzanin C Alleviates Inflammation and Lipid Accumulation in Kupffer Cells and Hepatocytes by Regulating Mitochondrial ROS.

Zaluzanin C (ZC), a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from L., has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. However, the mechanistic role of ZC in its protective effects in Kupffer cells and hepatocytes has not been elucidated.

Flash-Thermal Shock Synthesis of High-Entropy Alloys Toward High-Performance Water Splitting.

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) provide unprecedented physicochemical properties over unary nanoparticles (NPs). According to the conventional alloying guideline (Hume-Rothery rule), however, only size-and-structure similar elements can be mixed, limiting the possible combinations of alloying elements. Recently, it has been reported that based on carbon thermal shocks (CTS) in a vacuum atmosphere at high temperature, ultrafast heating/cooling rates and high-entropy environment play a critical role in the synthesis of HEAs, ruling out the possibility of phase separation.

Comparison of Each Eye According to the Order of Noninvasive Keratographic Tear Film Evaluation.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of order of examination on the results of noninvasive keratograph tear film evaluation using Keratograph5M in dry eye patients.

Methods: One hundred and four patients with dry eye symptoms were analyzed retrospectively. All patients underwent bilateral noninvasive tear film evaluation using measurements of tear meniscus height (TMH) and noninvasive keratograph break-up time (NIKBUT) obtained using Keratograph5M.

Evaluation of the Antiviral Efficacy of Subcutaneous Nafamostat Formulated with Glycyrrhizic Acid against SARS-CoV-2 in a Murine Model.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic highlights the urgent need for effective antiviral agents and vaccines. Drug repositioning, which involves modifying existing drugs, offers a promising approach for expediting the development of novel therapeutics. In this study, we developed a new drug, MDB-MDB-601a-NM, by modifying the existing drug nafamostat (NM) with the incorporation of glycyrrhizic acid (GA).

Comparative study of lung toxicity of E-cigarette ingredients to investigate E-cigarette or vaping product associated lung injury.

No comparative study has yet been performed on the respiratory effects of individual E-cigarette ingredients. Here, lung toxicity of individual ingredients of E-cigarette products containing nicotine or tetrahydrocannabinol was investigated. Mice were intratracheally administered propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), vitamin E acetate (VEA), or nicotine individually for two weeks.

Multi-modulation of immune-inflammatory response using bioactive molecule-integrated PLGA composite for spinal fusion.

Despite current developments in bone substitute technology for spinal fusion, there is a lack of adequate materials for bone regeneration in clinical applications. Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) is commercially available, but a severe inflammatory response is a known side effect. Bone graft substitutes that enhance osteogenesis without adverse effects are needed.

Risk factors of loss of reduction after acromioclavicular joint dislocation treated with a hook plate.

Background: Acromioclavicular joint fixation using a hook plate is effective for the treatment of acute acromioclavicular joint dislocation. However, several studies have reported some complications including loss of reduction after surgery for acromioclavicular joint dislocation. This study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with the loss of reduction after acromioclavicular joint dislocation surgery using a hook plate.

Nitric Oxide-Releasing Bioinspired Scaffold for Exquisite Regeneration of Osteoporotic Bone via Regulation of Homeostasis.

Osteoporotic bone regeneration is a challenging process which involves the occurrence of sophisticated interactions. Although various polymeric scaffolds have been proposed for bone repair, research on osteoporotic bone regeneration remains practically limited. In particular, achieving satisfactory bone regeneration when using osteoporotic drugs is challenging including bisphosphonates.