Biologically safe restoration of heavy metal-contaminated soils through plant-microbe synergy.

Abandoned mines have created extensive idle areas contaminated with heavy metals (HMs). Conventional remediation methods are often costly, environmentally disruptive, and pose risks to human health. As a sustainable alternative, a biological approach utilizing metal-tolerant plant growth-promoting bacteria (mPGPBs) was employed to remediate HM-contaminated soils and assess their biological safety.

Selective DUV Femtosecond Laser Annealing for Electrical Property Modulation in NMOS Inverter.

Amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide (a-IGZO) is widely used as an oxide semiconductor in the electronics industry due to its low leakage current and high field-effect mobility. However, a-IGZO suffers from notable limitations, including crystallization at temperatures above 600 °C and the high cost of indium. To address these issues, nitrogen-doped zinc oxynitride (ZnON), which can be processed at room temperature, has been proposed.

Amlexanox Ameliorates Traumatic Brain Injury by Restoring Autophagy-Lysosomal Function via cAMP Signaling Modulation.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) disrupts cellular homeostasis through lysosomal dysfunction, oxidative stress, and impaired autophagy, contributing to neuronal degeneration. Despite advances in our understanding of these mechanisms, effective therapeutic options remain limited. This study investigates amlexanox (AMX), a broad-spectrum phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor, as a potential treatment for TBI-induced neuronal damage.

Impact of Renal Impairment on the Pharmacodynamic and Pharmacokinetic Profiles of Epaminurad, a Novel Uric Acid Transporter 1 Inhibitor.

Epaminurad, a novel uricosuric agent, exhibits potent inhibitory activity against the human uric acid transporter. This study aimed to investigate the effects of renal function and food intake on the pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and safety characteristics of 9 mg epaminurad. This study was designed as a phase 1, partially randomized, open-label, oral administration, partial crossover trial.

Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has shown great promise in becoming an integral part of healthcare, offering advancements in diagnostic accuracy, surgical precision, and personalised patient care in numerous medical specialties, including radiology and surgery. This paper explores the ethical implications of AI in medicine, with emphasis on the four key ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. The ethical challenges include concerns about patient consent, data privacy, clinical transparency, and the potential for AI to exacerbate health disparities.

Genetic Alterations in Atypical Cerebral Palsy Identified Through Chromosomal Microarray and Exome Sequencing.

This study investigated the genetic causes of atypical cerebral palsy (CP) through chromosomal microarray (CMA) and exome sequencing (ES) in a cohort of 10 Korean patients to identify variants and expand the spectrum of mutations associated with atypical cerebral palsy. Whole ES and/or genome sequencing (GS) after routine karyotyping and CMA was performed to identify causative variants and expand the spectrum of mutations associated with atypical CP. In cases of atypical CP, scoliosis and/or kyphosis, ranging from mild to severe, were present in all patients.

A First-In-Human Phase 1 Study to Evaluate the Safety and Tolerability of LEM-S401, a Novel siRNA-DegradaBALL Drug Targeting CTGF in Healthy Adults.

This study evaluated the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of LEM-S401, a novel siRNA therapeutic with DegradaBALL, a mesoporous silica nanoparticle-based delivery system. LEM-S401 is designed to deliver siRNA targeting connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) to fibroblasts for treating hypertrophic scars and keloids, both of which result from abnormal collagen proliferation. LEM-S401, containing unmodified siRNA LEM-17234 encapsulated in DegradaBALL nanoparticles, was administered subcutaneously to healthy adults in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-ascending dose study.

L-theanine ameliorates traumatic-brain-injury-induced hippocampal neuronal death in rats.

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major health concern, often resulting in significant brain damage and functional impairments. A key contributing factor to TBI-induced neuronal injury is the overactivation of AMPA glutamate receptors, leading to an increased influx of calcium and zinc ions. This study investigates the neuroprotective potential of l-theanine, known for its antioxidant potential and ability to enhance glutathione synthesis, against hippocampal damage in a TBI rat model.

Imipramine, an Acid Sphingomyelinase Inhibitor, Promotes Newborn Neuron Survival in the Hippocampus After Seizure.

Epilepsy, a chronic neurological disorder, is triggered by various insults, including traumatic brain injury and stroke. Acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase), an enzyme that hydrolyzes sphingomyelin into ceramides, is implicated in oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and neuronal apoptosis. Ceramides, which have pro-apoptotic properties, contribute to oxidative damage and lysosomal dysfunction, exacerbating neuronal injury.

Effects of Microplastic Accumulation on Neuronal Death After Global Cerebral Ischemia.

Brain ischemia, a condition in which the brain is deprived of blood flow, can lead to a stroke due to blocked or unstable blood vessels. Global cerebral ischemia (GCI), characterized by an interruption in blood flow, deprives the brain of oxygen and nutrients, producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) that trigger cell death, which kills nerve cells. Microplastics (MPs), tiny environmental pollutants, can enter the human body through contaminated food, water, disposable items, cosmetics, and more.

Modulation of Second Messenger Signaling in the Brain Through PDE4 and PDE5 Inhibition: Therapeutic Implications for Neurological Disorders.

Phosphodiesterase (PDE) enzymes regulate intracellular signaling pathways crucial for brain development and the pathophysiology of neurological disorders. Among the 11 PDE subtypes, PDE4 and PDE5 are particularly significant due to their regulation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signaling, respectively, which are vital for learning, memory, and neuroprotection. This review synthesizes current evidence on the roles of PDE4 and PDE5 in neurological health and disease, focusing on their regulation of second messenger pathways and their implications for brain function.

Complete genome sequence of Pseudarthrobacter sp. NIBRBAC000502770 from coal mine of Hongcheon on Republic of Korea.

Objectives: The data were collected to obtain the complete genome sequence of Pseudarthrobacter sp. NIBRBAC000502770, isolated from the rhizosphere of Sasamorpha in a heavy metal-contaminated coal mine in Hongcheon, Republic of Korea. The objective was to explore the strain's genetic potential for plant growth promotion and heavy metal resistance, particularly arsenate and copper.

Comparative Analysis of Gut Microbiota in Humans Living with and Without Companion Animals.

Cohabitation with companion animals (CAs) has been suggested as a significant modifier of gut microbial diversity. This study investigated the influence of cohabitation with CAs on human gut microbiota composition. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we analyzed the gut microbiota of 20 families with CAs (40 adults, 20 children) and 20 families without CAs (40 adults, 20 children).

Long-range atmospheric transport of organochlorine pesticides from China to South Korea: Evidence from Deokjeok Island.

The influence of transboundary air pollutants originating from the Asian continent on South Korea has been a major concern. Although organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have been banned for several decades, they continue to be detected in the Korean environment. However, studies on the long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT) of OCPs in South Korea, particularly in background areas, remain limited.

Spatial distributions and source identification of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in soils and pine needles in the multi-industrial city of Ulsan, South Korea.

The spatial distribution and contamination patterns of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in soil and pine needles from the multi-industrial city of Ulsan, South Korea were assessed. The mean concentrations of Σ PCDD/Fs, Σ dl-PCBs, and Σ I-PCBs were 78 pg/g dw, 90 pg/g dw, and 453 pg/g dw in the soil and 6 pg/g ww, 31 pg/g ww, and 166 pg/g ww in the pine needles, respectively. The mean concentrations of PCDD/Fs, dl-PCBs, and I-PCBs in the soil at industrial sites (138, 184, and 453 pg/g dw) were significantly higher than those at urban (47, 33, and 186 pg/g dw) and suburban sites (48, 49, and 234 pg/g dw).

Charge-trap synaptic device with polycrystalline silicon channel for low power in-memory computing.

Processing-in-memory (PIM) is gaining tremendous research and commercial interest because of its potential to replace the von Neumann bottleneck in current computing architectures. In this study, we implemented a PIM hardware architecture (circuit) based on the charge-trap flash (CTF) as a synaptic device. The PIM circuit with a CT memory performed exceedingly well by reducing the inference energy in the synapse array.

Determination of a robust headspace GC-MS/MS method for analysis of ethyl alcohol and acetaldehyde: clinical application to pharmacokinetics study.

Due to the forensic aspects of drinking and exposure to toxic substances, more sophisticated quantitative technology is needed to quantify the concentration of ethyl alcohol and acetaldehyde in the blood. In this study, we developed a headspace gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method that could simultaneously detect ethyl alcohol and acetaldehyde in human plasma. Through a simple preparation process, ethyl alcohol and acetaldehyde were quickly detected within 4 min, and a lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) (20 and 0.

Advanced clinical symptoms of the antihangover compound HK-GCM-H01 in healthy Koreans.

A hangover is a combination of negative mental and physical symptoms, such as headache, diarrhea, and loss of appetite, that occur after alcohol consumption and can vary depending on individual genetic and environmental factors. To quickly relieve these hangover symptoms, a new hangover relief compound called HK-GCM-H01 has been developed. This compound, HK-GCM-H01, consists of fermented rice germ extracts, yeast extract mixtures, cili extract powder, and concentrated nipafam powder, all of which are known to relieve hangover symptoms.

Charcot Neuroarthropathy of the Shoulder Caused by Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Charcot neuroarthropathy (CN) is a chronic degenerative disorder of bones and joints, mostly associated with diabetes mellitus and human immunodeficiency virus. CN of the upper limb is rare, with only 58 case reports identified on PubMed with the majority of cases being closely associated with syringomyelia. Very rarely, cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is associated with CN of the upper limb; with very few literature reporting this association.

Pharmacodynamics Between a Dual Delayed-Release Formulation of Low-Dose Esomeprazole and Famotidine in Healthy Korean Subjects.

Purpose: Gastritis, one of the most common clinically diagnosed conditions, is defined as the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the gastric mucosa. Drugs for gastritis include histamine-2 receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which reduce acidity in the stomach, and antacids, which neutralize acid. Esomeprazole is a PPI for gastroesophageal reflux disease and gastric and duodenal ulcers that has been shown to be safe and effective at a 10 mg dose.

Statistical comparison for assessing agreement between two mass spectrometric methods for the analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDDs/Fs) in contaminated soils.

A gas chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HR/MS) has been used as the standard method for the quantification of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDDs/Fs), which are regulated at screening and action levels in the environment. However, several alternative methods have been attempted due to the disadvantage of its high cost. Although a gas chromatography with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-QqQ-MS/MS) has been used in a wide variety of sample matrices, showing that they are interchangeable, there has been a lack of comprehensive studies on statistical agreement with GC-HR/MS.

Pharmacokinetics and safety of candidate tocilizumab biosimilar CT-P47 administered by auto-injector or pre-filled syringe: a randomized, open‑label, single-dose phase I study.

Background: This study compared the pharmacokinetics (PK), immunogenicity, and safety of candidate tocilizumab biosimilar, CT-P47, administered via auto-injector (CT-P47 AI) or pre-filled syringe (CT-P47 PFS), in healthy Asian adults.

Research Design And Methods: In this phase I, multicenter, open-label study, participants were randomized 1:1 to receive a single 162 mg/0.9 mL dose of CT-P47 via AI or PFS.

On-Chip Annealing Using Embedded Micro-Heater for Highly Sensitive and Selective Gas Detection.

The demand for gas sensing systems that enable fast and precise gas recognition is growing rapidly. However, substantial challenges arise from the complex fabrication process of sensor arrays, time-consuming data transmission to an external processor, and high energy consumption in multi-stage data processing. In this study, a gas sensing system using on-chip annealing for fast and power-efficient gas detection is proposed.

Assessment of polychlorinated naphthalenes in Korean foods: Levels, profiles, and dietary intake.

Concerns about dioxin-like compounds have increased; however, the monitoring of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) in food and the assessment of dietary intake remain limited. In this study, various foods were collected from Korean markets and analyzed for PCNs. Fishery products exhibited the highest mean concentration (48.