Growth enhancement of harmful dinoflagellate Prorocentrum cordatum by bacterial community shifts driven by dissolved organic matter derived from raphidophyte Heterosigma akashiwo.

Phytoplankton blooms release dissolved organic matter (DOM), altering the composition of marine environments, which impacts microbial communities. Variation in DOM utilization among bacterial taxa can shift bacterial community structure, potentially affecting phytoplankton growth and species composition. Given the observed bloom successions of Heterosigma akashiwo and Prorocentrum cordatum, we hypothesized that H.

Real-Time PCR-Based Detection of Hepatitis E Virus in Groundwater: Primer Performance and Method Validation.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a leading cause of acute viral hepatitis and is primarily transmitted via contaminated water and food. Groundwater may also serve as a potential vector for HEV transmission. This study aimed to optimize real-time polymerase chain reaction (rtPCR) for the detection of HEV, employing both TaqMan probe- and SYBR Green-based methods.

Prognostic Value of Uric Acid in Predicting Metastasis Following Definitive Radiotherapy in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer.

Background/aim: This study investigated the prognostic value of serum uric acid (SUA) levels after definitive radiotherapy (RT) in head and neck cancer (HNC).

Patients And Methods: This retrospective study included patients with HNC undergoing definitive RT between January 2008 and February 2019. SUA levels were measured pre- and post-RT.

A Study on Scratching Behavior Characteristics in Patients With Various Types of Chronic Pruritus.

Purpose: In the 'Itch-Scratch cycle', scratching manifests in various ways and further provokes skin inflammation and alteration of the skin microbiota. However, there is an unmet demand for classifying and interpreting scratching behavior. We analyze patterns of scratching behavior expressed by patients with chronic pruritus.

Musculoskeletal workload assessment Index development for body workload evaluation.

BackgroundWork-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) are a significant concern in occupational health. However, in South Korea, the implementation of effective ergonomic assessment methods remains limited owing to procedural complexities and a lack of understanding. This highlights the critical need for a comprehensive approach to assess musculoskeletal workload and mitigate WMSDs.

Evaluation of Activities of Daily Living: Current Insights and Future Horizons.

Activities of daily living (ADL) assessments are crucial for evaluating functional independence and formulating care strategies for older adults. However, the existing tools encounter challenges, including cultural bias, subjectivity, and limited sensitivity to subtle changes in functional abilities. This review examines these limitations across basic, instrumental, and extended ADL categories and explores the integration of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, sensor-based systems, and remote monitoring tools, to address these gaps.

Regulation of Mutant Huntingtin Mitochondrial Toxicity by Phosphomimetic Mutations within Its N-Terminal Region.

Huntington's disease (HD), a neurodegenerative disease, affects approximately 30,000 people in the United States, with 200,000 more at risk. Mitochondrial dysfunction caused by mutant huntingtin (mHTT) drives early HD pathophysiology. mHTT binds the translocase of the mitochondrial inner membrane (TIM23) complex, inhibiting mitochondrial protein import and altering the mitochondrial proteome.

Association between calcium channel blocker use and the risk of interstitial lung disease and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: A longitudinal cohort study.

Introduction: Ca2+ signaling in fibroblasts would be one of the important mediators of lung fibrosis. This study investigated the relationship between calcium channel blocker usage and the risk of developing interstitial lung disease and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Material And Methods: This cohort study used data from the Korean National Health Screening Cohort spanned from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2015.

Effects of antioxidants on skin hydration, inflammatory cytokines, and keratinocyte differentiation markers in a PM-exposed skin barrier-disrupted mouse model.

Given that particulate matter (PM) has an established role in inducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and skin aging, it is plausible that PM could exacerbate inflammatory skin conditions such as xerosis. Xerosis represents a significant dermatological concern among older adults within aging populations. We conducted an investigation into the efficacy of antioxidants, such as dieckol, punicalagin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and resveratrol, against PM in a skin barrier-disrupted mouse model.

Dual-encoder architecture for metal artifact reduction for kV-cone-beam CT images in head and neck cancer radiotherapy.

During a radiotherapy (RT) course, geometrical variations of target volumes, organs at risk, weight changes (loss/gain), tumor regression and/or progression can significantly affect the treatment outcome. Adaptive RT has become the effective methods along with technical advancements in imaging modalities including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Planning CT (pCT) can be modified via deformable image registration (DIR), which is applied to the pair of pCT and CBCT.

Low dielectric properties of alkali-free aluminoborosilicate fiber glasses for PCB applications at 10 GHz.

Alkali-free aluminoborosilicate glasses without (GDMC-Si) and with LaO addition (GDMC-La) were fabricated with an aim to develop low dielectric glass fibers for use in printed circuit boards (PCBs) as a reinforcing material in high-speed 5G/6G telecommunications application. This study presents the structural, thermo-physical, and dielectric properties of the glasses. The decrease in glass transition temperature (T) and the increase in coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) were found by the addition of SiO and LaO in the present glass system, which are due to the depolymerization of the glass networks confirmed by the FTIR analysis.

Assessment of Nine Real-Time PCR Kits for African Swine Fever Virus Approved in Republic of Korea.

The African swine fever virus (ASFV) causes severe disease in wild and domestic pigs, with high mortality rates, extensive spread, and significant economic losses globally. Despite ongoing efforts, an effective vaccine remains elusive. Therefore, effective diagnostic methods are needed to rapidly detect and prevent the further spread of ASF.

Beyond complete remission: A comparative analysis of long-term laryngeal function in patients with hypopharyngeal and laryngeal cancer following radiotherapy and concurrent chemoradiation.

Background: This study evaluates functional larynx preservation in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer (HPC) and laryngeal cancer (LC) who achieved complete remission following radiotherapy (RT) or concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT).

Methods: HPC and LC patients treated with RT/CCRT from 1999 to 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Severe late dysphagia and tracheostomy cases were assessed to determine laryngeal function.

Determining ecological interactions of key dinoflagellate species using an intensive metabarcoding approach in a semi-closed coastal ecosystem of South Korea.

Marine phytoplankton communities are pivotal in biogeochemical cycles and impact global climate change. However, the dynamics of the dinoflagellate community, its co-occurrence relationship with other eukaryotic plankton communities, and environmental factors remain poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to analyze the temporal changes in the eukaryotic plankton community using a 18S rDNA metabarcoding approach.

Mapping the main harmful algal species in the East China Sea (Yangtze River estuary) and their possible response to the main ecological status and global climate change via a global vision.

The Yangtze River Estuary (YRE) is one of the areas in China most severely affected by harmful algal blooms (HABs). This study explored the distributive patterns of HABs in the YRE and how they are influenced by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and other environmental factors. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was employed to detect and quantify the four predominant HAB species in the YRE, Karenia mikimotoi, Margalefidinium polykrikoides, Prorocentrum donghaiense, and Heterosigma akashiwo.

Surgical Interventions Following Radiotherapy in Spinal Metastases with Intermediate Instability: A Risk Factor Analysis: The Korean Society of Spinal Tumor Multicenter Study (KSST 2022-02).

Background: One important determinant in choosing a treatment modality is spinal instability. Clear management guidelines are suggested for stable and unstable spinal metastatic lesions, but lesions in the intermediate instability category (SINS [spinal instability neoplastic score] score of 7-12) remain a clinical dilemma. This study aims to analyze the risk factors necessitating surgical intervention after radiotherapy (RT) in patients with those lesions.

The impact of sexual reproduction-induced vertical migration on the complexity of harmful algal blooms in Heterosigma akashiwo.

Vertical migration behaviour, which is integral to marine energy circulation, is a prevalent trait among marine organisms. However, the behaviour of phytoplankton, particularly beyond diel vertical migration (DVM), remain underexplored compared to groups like zooplankton. Through the lens of the harmful alga Heterosigma akashiwo, which exhibits active vertical migrations and unique fluctuating bloom dynamics, this study aimed to explore the ecological intricacies and diverse benefits of phytoplankton vertical migration behaviours.

Greater Risk of Periprosthetic Joint Infection Associated with Prolonged Operative Time in Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty: Meta-Analysis of 427,361 Patients.

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a severe complication in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with catastrophic outcomes. The relationship between prolonged operative times and PJI remains debated. This meta-analysis investigated the link between prolonged operative times and the risk of PJI in primary TKA.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of nail matrix topography for preservative nail surgery of nail unit melanoma.

Recently, functional or preservative surgery has been preferred for nail unit melanoma; however, complete resection of the nail unit, particularly the matrix, is challenging because of its complex structure. This study aims to measure the distance of important nail structures through ultrasonography. Herein, 14 patients without nail deformity were included.

The impact of the new ESTRO-ACROP target volume delineation guidelines for postmastectomy radiotherapy after implant-based breast reconstruction on breast complications.

The European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology-Advisory Committee in Radiation Oncology Practice (ESTRO-ACROP) updated a new target volume delineation guideline for postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) after implant-based reconstruction. This study aimed to evaluate the impact on breast complications with the new guideline compared to the conventional guidelines. In total, 308 patients who underwent PMRT after tissue expander or permanent implant insertion from 2016 to 2021 were included; 184 received PMRT by the new ESTRO-ACROP target delineation (ESTRO-T), and 124 by conventional target delineation (CONV-T).

Feasibility study of Aesculus turbinata fruit shell-derived biochar for ammonia removal in wastewater and its subsequent use as nitrogen fertilizer.

In the face of increasing nitrogen demand for crop cultivation driven by population growth, this study presents a sustainable solution to address both the heightened demand and the energy-intensive process of nitrogen removal from wastewater. Our approach involves the removal of nitrogen from wastewater and its subsequent return to the soil as a fertilizer. Using biochar derived from Aesculus turbinata fruit shells (ATFS), a by-product of post-medical use, we investigated the effect of pyrolysis temperature on the NH-N adsorption capacity of ATFS biochar (ATFS-BC).

Effect of modification methods on the physical properties and immunomodulatory activity of particulate β-glucan.

β-Glucan is an immunoenhancing agent whose biological activities are linked to molecular structure. On that basis, the polysaccharide can be physiochemically modified to produce valuable functional materials. This study investigated the physical properties and immunostimulatory activity of modified β-glucan.

Treatment of Fanconi anemia patient with synchronous esophageal and tongue cancer in COVID-19 era: a case report.

Although Fanconi anemia patients accompany a high risk of multiple cancers, radiation therapy on these patients has been carried out only in limited cases due to the concern for radiation toxicity that stems from their susceptibility to radiation. We report a case of a 28-year-old female patient diagnosed as synchronous esophageal and tongue cancer, and underwent two cycles of radiation therapy, inevitably in the condition of coronavirus disease 2019 infection. She received radiation therapy of 30 Gy to esophageal mass with neoadjuvant aim in her first-round radiation therapy, and later received 27 Gy to tongue cancer surgical bed with adjuvant aim in her second-round radiation therapy.

Assessment and validation of glottic motion using cone-beam CT and real-time cine MRI.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the margin for the planning target volume (PTV) using the Van Herk formula. We then validated the proposed margin by real-time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: An analysis of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) data from early glottic cancer patients was performed to evaluate organ motion.