Subretinal Hyperreflective Material, Atrophy, and Intraretinal Fluid in Pachychoroid Neovasculopathy.

Purpose: To assess the association between subretinal hyperreflective material (SHRM), atrophy, and intraretinal fluid (IRF) in pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV).

Design: Retrospective observational study.

Subjects: A total of 120 eyes diagnosed with PNV and treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor for more than 1 year.

Relationship Between COVID-19 Risk Perception and Face-To-Face and Non-Face-To-Face Social Isolation During COVID-19: Risk Perception and Social Isolation during COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic reduced social contact, causing social isolation, which is dependent on risk perception-a motivation for social distancing. While studies have examined risk perception as a dual process, its application to real-world risk situations is unexplored. This study investigated the relationships between risk perception, social contact changes, and social isolation during COVID-19.

Nanoparticle-based therapeutic strategies for chronic liver diseases: Advances and insights.

The liver is pivotal in protein synthesis, glucose and lipid metabolism, and detoxification. However, the liver is susceptible to both acute and chronic disorders, with chronic conditions being fatal. Chronic liver diseases (CLDs), such as liver fibrosis, which usually represents the early manifestation of cirrhosis, primarily result from hepatitis B and C viruses infections, metabolic disorders, alcohol abuse, immune-mediated attacks, and cholestatic injury.

Seasonal and spatial dynamics of fecal coliforms and water pollutants in the Nakdong River, South Korea: implications for climate adaptive water quality management strategies.

This study examines five years (2015 to 2019) of water quality data from 44 national monitoring sites along South Korea's Nakdong River to identify key environmental factors and pollutants affecting the spatial and seasonal distribution of total coliform bacteria (TC) and fecal coliform bacteria (FC). Using principal component analysis and cluster analysis, we analyzed the relationships between 18 key pollutant indicators and coliform distribution, focusing on seasonal and spatial variations. Our results revealed distinct spatial gradients in organic pollutants, including total organic carbon (TOC), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD), with higher concentrations downstream correlating with increased fecal coliform levels.

Impact of the 2050 carbon-neutral emission scenario on air quality in South Korea.

The 2050 Carbon Neutrality Scenario (CNS) in South Korea was developed based on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions and air pollution (AP) control policies. This study evaluated its potential impact on air quality in South Korea in 2050. Implementation of cost-effective and GHG-compatible AP control policies under the 2050 CNS led to projected decreases in emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO), oxides of nitrogen (NO), fine particulate matter (PM), and ammonia (NH) in South Korea by 56 %, 74 %, 40 %, and 27 %, respectively, relative to 2019 levels.

Design and Preliminary Immunogenicity Evaluation of Nipah Virus Glycoprotein G Epitope-Based Peptide Vaccine in Mice.

The emergence of several paramyxoviruses, including Nipah virus (NiV), makes continued efforts in vaccine development as part of pandemic preparedness efforts necessary. Although NiV is a zoonotic pathogen with high case fatality, there is still no licensed vaccine. Herein, NiV attachment glycoprotein G (NiV-G), which is crucial to host cell receptor binding, was used to develop Nipah epitope-based peptide vaccines.

Choroidal vessel changes in acute and chronic central serous chorioretinopathy assessed by en-face Layer-by-Layer comparison and correlation.

Purpose To analyze vascular morphologies of layers of the choroid and compare between acute and chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Methods A total of 161 (79 acute and 82 chronic) CSC eyes followed up for 6 months were enrolled. Baseline optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) data were collected, and choriocapillaris (CC), Sattler's layer, and Haller's layer en-face slabs were obtained from OCT and OCTA.

Flash drought as possible contributor to seedling dieback in the endangered conifer Abies koreana.

Tree species grown at high altitudes experience significantly greater stress than those at lower altitudes. A notable example is Abies koreana, a conifer recently classified as endangered due to a decline in normal seedling distribution within Korean natural forests. While several hypotheses have been proposed to explain this phenomenon, the underlying causes remain unclear.

Prediction of short-term anatomic prognosis for central serous chorioretinopathy using a generative adversarial network.

Purpose: To train generative adversarial network (GAN) models to generate predictive optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) at 3 months after observation using multi-modal OCT images.

Methods: Four hundred forty CSC eyes of 440 patients who underwent Cirrus OCT imaging were included. Baseline OCT B-scan images through the foveal center, en face choroid, and en face ellipsoid zone were collected from each patient.

Dissecting the biological complexity of age-related macular degeneration: Is it one disease, multiple separate diseases, or a spectrum?

Clinicians recognize the heterogeneity of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in presentation, progression, and treatment response, as well as the challenges in distinguishing it from other macular degenerations. As part of the 2024 Ryan Initiative for Macular Research meeting, a group of clinician-scientists and basic scientists were convened to consider the question of whether AMD should be classified as a single disorder or a spectrum of conditions. To answer this question, we reviewed research on several "dimensions" that constitute AMD risk or pathogenesis: genetics, ancestry, retinal imaging findings, diet and environment, aging, and outer retinal molecular and cellular pathways.

Nonlesional ileal transcriptome in Crohn's disease reveals alterations in immune response and metabolic pathway.

Background And Aim: We aimed to assess the gene expression profiles of nonlesional small bowels in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) to identify its accompanying molecular alterations.

Methods: We performed RNA sequencing of the uninflamed small bowel tissues obtained from 70 patients with ileal CD and 9 patients with colon cancer (non-CD controls) during bowel resection. Differentially expressed gene (DEG) analyses were performed using DESeq2.

Choroidal biomarkers in age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of central visual impairment in the elderly. The exact pathophysiological mechanisms for AMD remain uncertain. Several studies suggest that choroidal abnormalities and alterations are critical in AMD progression.

The Inhibitory Effects of Maclurin on Fatty Acid Synthase and Adipocyte Differentiation.

Obesity is a complex health condition characterized by excessive adipose tissue accumulation, leading to significant metabolic disturbances such as insulin resistance and cardiovascular diseases. Fatty acid synthase (FAS), a key enzyme in lipogenesis, has been identified as a potential therapeutic target for obesity due to its role in adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation. This study employed a multidisciplinary approach involving in silico and in vitro analyses to investigate the anti-adipogenic properties of maclurin, a natural phenolic compound derived from .

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and catheter-related bladder discomfort following transurethral resection of bladder tumour: A randomised controlled trial.

Background: Catheter-related bladder discomfort (CRBD) is problematic in patients with a urinary catheter. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a non-invasive analgesic modality used to relieve various types of pain.

Objectives: We evaluated the effect of TENS on CRBD after transurethral resection of bladder tumours (TURBT).

Proanthocyanidins and Phenolic Compounds from the Twigs of and Their Anti-Lipogenic Effects on 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes.

The present study investigated potential bioactive natural products from the EtOH extract of twigs using column chromatography, leading to the isolation of six compounds (-), which were characterized as two proanthocyanidins, procyanidin B () and procyanidin B (), and four phenolic compounds, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid -D-glucosyl ester (), di--methylcrenatin (), -coumaric acid glucoside (), and syringin () by the comparison of their NMR spectra with the reported data and high-resolution (HR)-electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS) analysis. We investigated the potential of six compounds (-) to inhibit adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, which showed that the compounds (-) significantly reduced lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes without affecting cell proliferation. Notably, compound demonstrated a remarkable 60% and 90% reduction in lipid levels with 50 and 100 µM treatments, respectively.

Quantification of Choroidal Vascular Hyperpermeability on Ultra-Widefield Indocyanine Green Angiography in Macular Neovascularization.

To obtain a quantitative parameter for the measurement of choroidal vascular hyperpermeability (CVH) on ultra-widefield indocyanine green angiography (UWICGA) using an objective analysis method in macular choroidal neovascularization (CNV). A total of 113 UWICGA images from 113 subjects were obtained, including with 25 neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), 37 with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) (19 with thin-choroid and 18 with thick-choroid), 33 with pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV), and 18 age-matched controls. CVH was quantified on a gray image by the subtraction of 2 synchronized UWICGA images of early and late phases.

Predictive Factors Influencing the Evolution of Acquired Vitelliform Lesions in Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration Eyes.

Purpose: In this study, we identify risk factors that predict the progression of acquired vitelliform lesions (AVLs) over time.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Subjects: One hundred sixty-three eyes of 132 patients with a diagnosis of intermediate age-related macular degeneration (iAMD) with AVL.

Determination of the Absolute Configuration of Secondary Alcohols in a Compound Mixture via the Application of Competing Enantioselective Acylation Coupled with LC/MS Analysis.

The determination of natural product stereochemistry plays a significant role in drug discovery and development. Understanding the stereochemistry of natural products is essential for predicting and optimizing their interactions with biological targets, which, in turn, influences their therapeutic efficacy, safety, and overall impact on living organisms. Here, we present the first application of competitive enantioselective acylation (CEA) reactions in conjunction with LC/MS analysis for determining the absolute configuration of secondary alcohols in natural products which were purified as a mixture.

En Face and Volumetric Comparison of Hypertransmission Defects Evaluated by Cirrus and Spectralis Optical Coherence Tomography.

Purpose: To evaluate and compare en face and 3-dimensional (3-D) properties of hypertransmission defects (HTDs) between different optical coherence tomography (OCT) devices using OCT volumes and reconstructed en face images.

Settings: Comparative diagnostic evaluation study.

Methods: Thirty eyes with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) that underwent dense OCT macular volume scans with both the Spectralis (97 B-scans/volume; 2910 B-scans in total) and Cirrus OCT (128 B-scans/volume; 3840 B-scans in total) from the Amish Eye Study cohort were included in this analysis.

Digital Literacy and Associated Factors in Older Adults Living in Urban South Korea: A Qualitative Study.

This study aimed to explore digital literacy among community-dwelling older adults in urban South Korea. A semistructured interview guide was developed using the Digital Competence ( 2.0 framework, which emphasizes the competencies for full digital participation in five categories: information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, content creation, safety, and problem-solving.

North Korean defectors with PTSD and complex PTSD show alterations in default mode network resting-state functional connectivity.

Background: North Korean defectors (NKDs) have often been exposed to traumatic events. However, there have been few studies of neural alterations in NKDs with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (cPTSD).

Aims: To investigate neural alterations in NKDs with PTSD and cPTSD, with a specific focus on alterations in resting-state functional connectivity networks, including the default mode network (DMN).