Extracellular vesicles from inhibit the biofilm formation of and reduce bacterial contamination on romaine lettuce.

Biofilms formed by foodborne pathogens such as pose a serious risk to food safety. Probiotics and their derivatives have been widely explored as alternatives to conventional antimicrobial strategies for biofilm control. In this study, extracellular vesicles (EVs) were isolated from (LpEVs) and characterized, and their antibiofilm activity against was investigated.

Structural insight into an intertwined homodimer of the N-terminal domain of hypothetical protein Rv1421 from Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv1421 (MtRv1421) is a hypothetical protein that may participate in the nucleotide-sugar metabolism for cell wall homeostasis. Our previous studies have suggested that MtRv1421 may be involved in the regulatory device mediated by uridine diphosphate N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc), a precursor in peptidoglycan synthesis. However, the detailed molecular functions of MtRv1421 are unclear due to a lack of structural information.

Cognitive impairment is associated with poor diabetic foot ulcer outcomes.

Background: Up to one-third of individuals with diabetes develop diabetic foot ulcers (DFU), and cognitive impairment affects up to 34 % of this population. This study evaluates the impact of cognitive impairment on ulcer outcomes.

Methods: This six-year retrospective study analyzed ICD-9/10 codes from a large tertiary health system.

Identification of Ni-N Active Sites in Atomically Dispersed Ni Catalysts for Efficient Chlorine Evolution Reaction.

Chlorine (Cl) is one of the most important chemicals in the chemical industry, which is primarily produced by the electrochemical chlorine evolution reaction (CER) in the chlor-alkali process. While platinum-group metal (PGM)-based dimensionally stable anodes (DSAs) have dominated over the last half century, atomically dispersed catalysts (ADCs) have recently emerged as a promising class of CER catalysts; however, they still rely on PGMs. In this work, we prepared a series of non-PGM (Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu)-based ADCs and investigated their CER reactivity trends.

In Vitro Modeling of Natural Killer Cell Cytotoxicity to Inform Personalized ALS Therapeutics.

Objective: Natural killer (NK) cells might contribute to motor neuron death in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) through direct cytotoxicity, a process that could be inhibited with the FDA-approved JAK/STAT pathway inhibitor, tofacitinib. This study aimed to verify that tofacitinib can suppress NK cell cytotoxicity, investigate if immune cell profiles can predict responsiveness to tofacitinib, and assess the role of NK cell cytotoxicity in ALS progression.

Methods: Primary NK cells were isolated from peripheral blood samples of ALS participants and healthy controls.

Elucidating the molecular structural origin of efficient emission across solid and solution phases of single benzene fluorophores.

Achieving high quantum yields for organic fluorophores in both solution and in the polycrystalline solid state is a significant yet challenging goal, as most fluorophores typically emit effectively in only one phase. In this study, we introduce 1,1'-(2,5-dimethoxyterephthaloyl)-bis(glutraimide) (TGlu), a novel 'single benzene'-based organic fluorophore featuring an alkoxy donor and an N-acyl-glutarimide acceptor. TGlu achieves close-to-unity fluorescence quantum yields in both solution and in the polycrystalline state.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of routine pediatric vaccination of 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in South Korea.

Pneumococcal disease poses a substantial clinical and economic burden, especially among children under 5 years old. The 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) was first introduced in South Korea's Childhood Immunization Program in 2014. In October 2023, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approved the use of a 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV15) in infants, children, adolescents, and adults.

The preventive effect of solubilized sturgeon oil on dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis inflammation attenuation and intestinal microbiota regulation.

Ulcerative colitis (UC), an inflammatory bowel disease, causes inflammation in the colonic mucosa. The pathogenesis of UC is closely linked to abnormalities in the gastrointestinal microbiota and immune response. Current treatments for UC primarily alleviate symptoms but are associated with several drawbacks, particularly with prolonged use.

Lateral hypothalamus and eating: cell types, molecular identity, anatomy, temporal dynamics and functional roles.

The lateral hypothalamus (LH) is a central hub orchestrating eating behavior through its complex cellular, anatomical and temporal organization. The LH is characterized by high heterogeneity and functional complexity, with many aspects still unexplored. Here we synthesize recent advances in understanding the role of the LH in eating regulation across multiple dimensions.

Evaluation of Efficacy of Water-Soluble Fraction of Gall Extract and Penta-O-Galloyl-β-D-Glucose on Mitigation of Hair Loss: An In Vitro and Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study.

Hair loss, a prevalent condition affecting individuals across various demographics, is associated with hormonal imbalances, oxidative stress, inflammation, and environmental factors. This study evaluated the anti-hair loss potential of the water-soluble fraction of gall extract (WRGE) and its primary component, Penta-O-Galloyl-β-D-Glucose (PGG), through both in vitro and clinical studies. WRGE was obtained using a standardized extraction process, and PGG was identified via HPLC-DAD and HRESIMS/MS techniques.

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 as a biomarker of venous invasion in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a fatal disease with a poor prognosis. While venous invasion is believed to contribute to liver metastasis and an unfavorable prognosis, the precise mechanisms involved remain unclear. Here, we conducted gene expression profiling on eight PDAC tissue samples exhibiting portal venous invasion (VI group) compared to PDAC samples without portal venous invasion (CA group) and normal portal vein tissues (NV group).

The Effects of Virtual Reality Training on Post-Stroke Upper and Lower Limb Function: A Meta-Analysis.

This meta-analysis presents an updated comparison between virtual reality (VR) training and conventional training (CT) in post-stroke rehabilitation by incorporating recent studies based on prior meta-analyses. We searched 3 international electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library) and a Korean database (KoreaMed) to identify relevant studies. Out of 5,218 studies, 30 randomized controlled trials were selected through the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method.

Red-light LED therapy promotes wound regeneration by upregulating COL1A1, COL2A1, VEGF and reducing IL-1β for anti-inflammation.

This study examines the effects of 630 nm red-light laser therapy on wound healing, with a focus on VEGF-mediated angiogenesis and collagen production. The effectiveness of red-light therapy is influenced by critical parameters, including treatment duration and distance, which often lack standardization across protocols. To address this, we conducted cell viability and scratch wound assays using NIH/3T3 cells in-vitro to identify optimal treatment conditions.

Phylogenetic and Taxonomic Study of : A Fungal Species with Aster-shaped Spores Infecting .

Small galls and white blisters with cup-like fungal structures were observed on the leaves of (Lauraceae), a tree species native to East Asia. Based on its distinctive symptoms and aster-shaped spores, the causal agent was identified as . Despite its unique characteristics, the genus remains taxonomically unresolved (incertae sedis) within the phylum Ascomycota due to the absence of both sequence data and available culture.

Microbial changes, including methanogens, influenced by arsenic speciation in anaerobic wetland environments.

Methylated and inorganic arsenic species are frequently detected in natural water systems due to anthropogenic activities and geological origins. However, the impact of arsenic species on microbial activity, particularly on methanogens responsible for methane production, remains underexplored. This study investigates the effects of arsenic on methanogenesis by adding iAs(V) and DMA(V) to wetland sediment batches and monitoring arsenic speciation in the supernatant and methane production over time.

Rational Pore Design in Multivariate Metal-Organic Frameworks for CH/CH Separation.

The arrangement of pores within the framework plays a crucial role in the gas separation and adsorption of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), determining their overall performance. In this study, the impact on gas separation efficiency is compared using two multivariate MOF (MTV-MOF) systems with controlled pore arrangements. These systems employ two types of ligands with differing bulkiness: one is the core-shell MOF composite (CSMOF), sequentially synthesized with the bulkier ligand located at the shell, and the other is the mixed-linker MOF (MLMOF), synthesized via a one-pot reaction.

Slurry Synthesis and Thin-Film Fabrication Toward Production of Li₂O-B₂O₃-Al₂O₃-Based Multilayer Oxide Solid-State Batteries for Internet of Things Applications.

Developing thin-film sheets made of oxide-based solid electrolytes is essential for fabricating surface-mounted ultracompact multilayer oxide solid-state batteries. To this end, solid-electrolyte slurry must be optimized for excellent dispersibility. Although oxide-based solid electrolytes for multilayer structures require sintering, high processing temperatures cause problems such as Li-ion volatilization and reactions with graphite anodes.

Long-term high fat diet aggravates the risk of lung fibrosis and lung cancer: transcriptomic analysis in the lung tissues of obese mice.

Background: Previous studies reported significant relationships between obesity and pulmonary dysfunction. Here, we investigated genetic alterations in the lung tissues of high fat diet (HFD) induced obese mouse through transcriptomic and molecular analyses.

Methods: Eight-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were fed either a normal chow diet (NCD) or HFD for 12 weeks.

Spent coffee ground disrupts Listeria monocytogenes biofilm formation through inhibition of motility and adhesion via quorum sensing regulation.

Spent coffee grounds (SCGs) have been explored for use as various bioresources, such as biofuels, and are known to possess biological functions, including antioxidant activity. However, the antibiofilm properties of SCGs against pathogenic bacteria have not been fully investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to highlight the inhibitory effects of SCG extract (SCGE) on biofilm formation in Listeria monocytogenes and investigated the underlying mechanisms.

MIF Inhibition by ISO-1 Decreased Autophagic Activity in Primary Astrocytes During Cobalt Chloride-Induced Hypoxia.

Ischemic stroke is a leading contributor to death and disability worldwide, driving extensive research into pharmacological treatments beyond thrombolysis. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a cytokine, is implicated in several pathological conditions. In this study, we examined the effects of MIF on autophagy in astrocytes under the condition of chemical hypoxia.

Difference of Parental Level of Concerns on Surgery according to the Perspectives and Characteristic among Pediatrics with Intermittent Exotropia.

Purpose: To evaluate the differences in the level of concerns regarding exotropia surgery according to the perspectives regarding surgery and basic characteristics of parents of pediatric patients with intermittent exotropia in South Korea.

Methods: This study included the parents of pediatric patients with intermittent exotropia who underwent surgery at five hospitals, between June 2022 and February 2023. Parental perspectives, basic characteristics, and levels of concern regarding surgery were assessed using a questionnaire.

Visual Indicator for Intradialytic Hypotension Prediction Using Variation and Compensation of Heart Rate.

Background: To date, most intradialytic hypotension (IDH) studies have proposed technologies to comprehensively predict the occurrence of IDH using the patient's baseline information and ultrafiltration (UF) information, but it is difficult to apply the technologies while identifying the patient's condition in real time.

Methods: In this study, we propose an IDH indicator that uses heart rate (HR) change information to identify the patient's condition in real time and visually shows whether IDH has occurred. The data used were collected from 40 dialysis patients in a clinical trial conducted in the Artificial Kidney Unit at Yeungnam University Medical Center, Korea, from 18 July to 29 November 2023.

Colicin Immunity Proteins of Pathogenic Bacteria Detected by Antibiotic-Induced SOS Response, Plasmid Sequencing, MALDI-TOF-TOF Mass Spectrometry, and Top-Down Proteomic Analysis.

Rationale: Plasmids can play a major role in the survival of pathogenic bacteria. Plasmids are acquired through horizontal gene transfer resulting in their spread across various strains, species and genera of bacteria. Colicins are bacterial protein toxins expressed by plasmid genes and released against co-located bacterial competitors.

Comprehensive Study of Antibiotic Resistance in spp.: Comparison of Influents and Effluents of Wastewater Treatment Plants.

: The spread of antibiotic resistance, particularly through spp., in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) poses significant public health risks. Given that research on antibiotic-resistant enterococci and their antibiotic-resistance genes in aquatic environments is limited, we evaluated the role of spp.