Biomarkers of type 2 inflammation as predictors of response to biologics for severe eosinophilic asthma.

Background: The relationship between pre-treatment levels of blood eosinophil count (BEC), fractional exhaled nitric oxide ( ) and sputum eosinophils (Sp-EOS) and treatment response to monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA) remains unclear. We evaluated pre-treatment levels of BEC, , Sp-EOS and their combinations as predictors of treatment responses in patients with SEA undergoing anti-interleukin (IL)-5/IL-5Rα or anti-IL-4Rα antibody therapies.

Methods: The study included 153 adult patients with SEA (59 anti-IL-5/IL-5Rα and 94 anti-IL-4Rα users).

Association of throat sensation severity with quality of life in patients with chronic cough.

Background: Patients with chronic cough frequently present with abnormal throat sensations, but the clinical significance of such sensations remains unknown. This study examined the severity of throat sensations and their relationships with quality of life (QoL) in patients with chronic cough.

Methods: The analysis used baseline cross-sectional data from the Korean Chronic Cough Registry.

Development of a time-resolved fluorescence-based lateral flow immunoassay for rapid and sensitive diagnosis of Middle East respiratory syndrome.

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory infection caused by the MERS-coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Due to its high mortality and lack of a vaccine or treatment, MERS has remained on the WHO's priority list of diseases with the highest public health risk since 2012. Although rapid diagnosis is essential for interrupting transmission, initiating timely treatment, and maintaining public health systems, no rapid diagnostic method currently exists for MERS.

ICD-10 Diagnostic Coding Patterns and Clinical Correlates in Refractory Chronic Cough: Analysis from the Korean Chronic Cough Registry.

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) system plays a key role in health data classification but currently lacks a specific code for refractory chronic cough (RCC). This study analyzed ICD-10 coding patterns among 331 RCC patients enrolled in the Korean Chronic Cough Registry. Each patient had a median of 3 [IQR: 2-4] ICD-10 codes at their most recent outpatient visit.

Exploring the inhibitory effects of extract and sinigrin on lipid accumulation in BPA-Induced 3T3-L1 cells via the glucocorticoid receptor and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ pathways.

Obesogens, such as bisphenol A (BPA), are emerging models for obesity research, yet their mechanisms remain less explored. While BPA has been extensively studied for its estrogen receptor interactions, its effects on the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) remain unclear. This study explored the role of the GR in BPA-induced lipid accumulation using the GR antagonist mifepristone (10 μM) and the PPAR-γ antagonist GW9662 (15 μM) in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.

Invasive Breast Cancers Missed by AI Screening of Mammograms.

Background Little is known about the features of invasive breast cancers missed by artificial intelligence (AI) on mammograms. Purpose To assess the false-negative rate (FNR) of AI mammogram evaluation according to molecular subtype and to investigate the features of and reasons for AI-missed cancers. Materials and Methods This retrospective study identified consecutive patients diagnosed with breast cancer between January 2014 and December 2020.

Effects of Zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) tight junction protein on tumor characteristics in human ovarian cancer cells.

Background: Ovarian cancer is among the most lethal malignancies affecting women, largely due to its asymptomatic progression in early stages, rapid advancement, and high mortality rate. Tight junction protein 1 (TJP1), also known as Zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), plays a critical role in epithelial and endothelial cell integrity by regulating paracellular permeability. Additionally, ZO-1 is involved in cell-cell communication networks, influencing cellular proliferation, differentiation, and metastasis.

Transformative Impact of Nanocarrier-Mediated Drug Delivery: Overcoming Biological Barriers and Expanding Therapeutic Horizons.

Advancing therapeutic progress is centered on developing drug delivery systems (DDS) that control therapeutic molecule release, ensuring precise targeting and optimal concentrations. Targeted DDS enhances treatment efficacy and minimizes off-target effects, but struggles with drug degradation. Over the last three decades, nanopharmaceuticals have evolved from laboratory concepts into clinical products, highlighting the profound impact of nanotechnology in medicine.

Predictors of self-assessed likelihood of future drug use among Korean adults: the role of health beliefs and personality traits.

Substance use is a growing public health concern in South Korea. However, research on the predictive factors influencing future drug use remains limited. This study examined the self-assessed likelihood of future drug use in a sample of 3,000 Korean adults aged 19-59 years, focusing on health beliefs and personality traits as predictors.

Smart insole-based abnormal gait identification: Deep sequential networks and feature ablation study.

Objective: Gait analysis plays a pivotal role in evaluating walking abilities, with recent advancements in digital health stressing the importance of efficient data collection methods. This study aims to classify nine gait types including one normal and eight abnormal gaits, using sequential network-based models and diverse feature combinations obtained from insole sensors.

Methods: The dataset was collected using insole sensors from subjects performing 15 m walking with designated gait types.

Concurrent Blood Eosinophils and FeNO as Biological Therapy Indicators in Severe Asthma: Findings From the Precision Medicine Intervention in Severe Asthma Study.

Background: The combination of pretreatment peripheral blood eosinophil count (BEC) and FeNO levels for optimizing the therapeutic response of T2-biologics in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA) remains unclear.

Objective: To compare longitudinal clinical outcome changes across subgroups stratified by the combination of high and low levels of BEC and FeNO.

Methods: Overall, 278 patients with SEA (anti-IL-5/IL-5Rα users: n = 82; and anti-IL-4Rα users: n = 196) were stratified based on pretreatment BEC and FeNO levels and observed for 6 to 12 months.

Classification of Abnormal Gaits with Machine Learning Algorithms using Sensor-Inherited Insoles.

The digital health industry's interest in gait analysis has driven research into sensor-enabled insoles for practical, everyday gait monitoring. Traditional methods, such as 3D motion capture systems, are costly and time-consuming. To address this, we propose an efficient method to evaluate gait performance.

Aptamer-Guided, Hydrolysis-Resistant Deoxyoxanosine Enables Epitope- and Moiety-Selective Conjugation to Nonengineered Proteins Even in Complex Environments.

In protein engineering, researchers have extensively explored the incorporation of nonprotein entities into proteins to extend their functionalities to various applications; however, achieving precise modifications of proteins is still challenging. This study demonstrates epitope- and moiety-selective conjugation of nonengineered proteins by integrating "slow-reactive and hydrolysis-resistant" deoxyoxanosine (dOxa) into a "target- and epitope-selective" aptamer. The amine-reactive dOxa-containing aptamers are dominantly single-lysine-selective at recognition sites, achieving significantly high conjugation yields with remarkably low off-target reactions in complex environments under near-physiological conditions through a catalyst-free, one-pot reaction.

Relationships Between Chronic Cough and Asthma Control and Quality of Life in Patients With Severe Asthma: A 6-Month Longitudinal Analysis.

Background: The prevalence and clinical implications of chronic cough (CC) in patients with severe asthma receiving asthma treatment remain relatively unknown.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between CC and asthma control and quality of life (QoL) in patients with severe asthma through longitudinal analysis.

Methods: Baseline and 6-month follow-up data from the Korean Severe Asthma Registry were analyzed.

Exposure of Young Mice to Atmospherically Relevant PM Has Sex-Dependent Long-Lasting Impacts on the Skeletal Muscle System.

The negative effects of particulate matter up to 2.5 μm in diameter (PM) and their mediating mechanisms have been studied in various tissues. However, little is known about the mechanism and long-term tracking underlying the sex-dependent effects of PM on skeletal muscle system modulation.

n-acetyl-l-cysteine stimulates bone healing by recovering the age-associated degenerative complications relative to osteoblastic Wntless ablation.

Dysregulated Wnt signaling causes age-related characteristics such as oxidative stress, stem cell senescence, and abnormal bone homeostasis. Here we explored whether supplemental n-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) recovers the age-associated complications relative to osteoblastic Wntless (Wls) ablation and examined the possible mechanisms therein. For this work, we administered Col2.

Mixed Pancreatobiliary Ductal Adenocarcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma Arising from an Ectopic Pancreas in a Gastric Duplication Cyst-A Rare Double Diagnosis.

Gastric duplication cysts (GDCs) are rare congenital anomalies, often identified during infancy or childhood. Although typically benign, there have been sporadic reports of malignant transformations, including adenocarcinoma and rare mixed tumors. Herein, we describe a rare case of mixed pancreatobiliary ductal adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma occurring within a GDC in a 54-year-old Korean woman with a history of melena and hematemesis.

Longitudinal multi-trajectory phenotypes of severe eosinophilic asthma on type 2 biologics treatment.

Background: Limited understanding exists regarding the progression trajectory of severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA) patients on type 2 biologics therapies.

Objective: We aim to explore distinct longitudinal phenotypes of these patients based on crucial asthma biomarkers.

Methods: We enrolled 101 adult patients with SEA.

Clinical Characteristics of T2-Low and T2-High Asthma-Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Overlap: Findings From COREA Cohort.

Purpose: Despite the emerging biologics, biomarkers and treatment options for asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap (ACO) are still limited, requiring further research.

Methods: We enrolled 378 ACO patients from a multicenter real-world asthma cohort in Korea and compared the clinical characteristics, lung function, and exacerbation between type 2 (T2)-high and T2-low groups. We used the following comparisons: 1) low vs.

Nano-enabled strategies in sustainable agriculture for enhanced crop productivity: A comprehensive review.

The global food demand is increasing with the world population, burdening agriculture with unprecedented challenges. Agricultural techniques that ushered in the green revolution are now unsustainable, owing to population growth and climate change. The agri-tech revolution that promises a robust, efficient, and sustainable agricultural system while enhancing food security is expected to be greatly aided by advancements in nanotechnology, which have been reviewed here.

Pathway control in metallosupramolecular polymerization of a monoalkynylplatinum(ii) terpyridine complex through competitive complex formation.

Understanding the pathway complexity of supramolecular polymerization in biomimetic systems has been a challenging issue due to its importance in the development of rationally controlled materials and insight into self-assembly in nature. We herein report a kinetic trapping strategy as a new methodology on how to control the pathway of metallosupramolecular polymerization by employing secondary metal ions and/or ligands which form competitive complex species. For this, we proposed monoalkynylplatinum(ii) metalloligand (Pt-L) derived from a bis(amideterpyridine) receptor with one unoccupied terpyridyl terminal as a coordination site for the secondary metal ion (Ag or Fe).

Could cough hypersensitivity symptom profile differentiate phenotypes of chronic cough?

Background: Recently, cough reflex hypersensitivity has been proposed as a common underlying feature of chronic cough in adults. However, symptoms and clinical characteristics of cough hypersensitivity have not been studied amongst phenotypes of chronic cough. This study aimed to compare symptom features, such as cough triggers and associated throat sensations, of cough hypersensitivity in patients with asthmatic chronic cough and those with refractory chronic cough (RCC).

Exploring the concept of disease control in chronic cough.

Background: Disease control in chronic diseases is an overarching concept that reflects the degree to which the goals of therapy are met. However, to date, there is no consensus on the definition of disease control in chronic cough. This study aimed to provide a conceptual exploration of patient-reported cough control in chronic cough.