Multiple Organ Failure as a Strong Predictor of Mortality in Patients with Hypoxic Hepatitis.

: Hypoxic hepatitis contributes to the development and progression of multiple organ failure (MOF). We evaluated whether MOF is associated with 30-day mortality in patients with hypoxic hepatitis. : This retrospective study included 1011 patients diagnosed with hypoxic hepatitis at two centers in South Korea between 2010 and 2021.

Nonthermal Atmospheric Plasma Induces Osteogenic Activity in Osteoblasts through the ROS/WNT Signaling Axis.

Nonthermal plasma (NTP) has garnered attention for its potential in various biological activities. Due to the interactions with proteins and other cellular components, NTPs might stimulate osteoblast activity, but the exact mechanisms are still unknown. This study used two kinds of NTP: dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) and jet NTP (JNTP) to treat serum-free cell culture media at different time intervals.

Sleep pressure is differentially regulated by molecularly distinct subtypes of Lhx6-positive and Lhx6-negative neurons of the zona incerta.

Sleep pressure, the accumulating drive towards sleep during wakefulness, is shaped by Lhx6-positive GABAergic neurons in the zona incerta (ZI). Here, we show that these neurons are broadly activated both by spontaneous and experimentally-elevated sleep pressure, and remain active for hours into recovery sleep. Activation is stronger in anterior ZI and varies across molecularly defined subgroups: Nkx2-2-positive neurons respond vigorously, whereas Calb2-positive neurons respond weakly.

Antibiofilm strategies using mixed disinfectants and cubosome nanocarriers to combat Staphylococcus aureus on sandblasted stainless steel disc surfaces.

Bacterial biofilms are complex communities in which microorganisms are adhered and encapsulated in a self-produced extracellular polymeric material (EPS) matrix. Biofilm acts as a protective barrier, enhancing the resistance of bacteria to environmental stressors, cleaning agents and antimicrobial treatments. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluated the effectiveness of a mixed disinfectant suspension (MIX) against Staphylococcus aureus biofilms on sandblasted stainless steel disc surfaces.

Comprehensive global-scale evaluation of the COVID-19 pandemic associated with 234 countries, territories, and sub-national locations during 2020-2024.

Comprehensive estimation of COVID-19, including infection, death, excess mortality, case fatality rate (CFR), and infection fatality rate (IFR), is essential for understanding the pandemic's pattern. The location-specific estimates of infection, death, and excess mortality of COVID-19 from January 1, 2020, to February 11, 2024, and we have cumulative infections and cumulative deaths worldwide. Using the WHO dataset and Our World in Data, we estimated infection, mortality, excess mortality, CFR, and IFR in 234 countries and territories during COVID-19.

A Subcircuit in the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus Generates Wakefulness.

The daily cycles of sleep and arousal are among the most prominent biological rhythms under circadian control. While the role of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) as the master circadian pacemaker is well-established, the molecular and circuit mechanisms by which it regulates the rhythms of sleep and arousal remain poorly understood. It has previously shown that the Drosophila clock-output molecule Wide Awake (WAKE) and its mammalian homolog mWAKE are expressed in fly clock neurons and dorsomedial hypothalamus neurons that promote arousal.

Sleep need-dependent plasticity of a thalamic circuit promotes homeostatic recovery sleep.

Prolonged wakefulness leads to persistent, deep recovery sleep (RS). However, the neuronal circuits that mediate this process remain elusive. From a circuit screen in mice, we identified a group of thalamic nucleus reuniens (RE) neurons activated during sleep deprivation (SD) and required for sleep homeostasis.

Generative artificial intelligence, integrative bioinformatics, and single-cell analysis reveal Alzheimer's genetic and immune landscape.

The research aims to understand Alzheimer's genetic and immune landscapes using the amalgamation of three technologies: artificial intelligence (GenAI), integrative bioinformatics, and single-cell analysis. First, the study aims to identify and characterize the significant genes associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) using three GenAI models (GPT‑4o, Gemini model, and DeepSeek). After the genes were accumulated from GenAI models, 27 genes associated with AD were recoded.

Facet-Dependent Adsorption of Pb(II) on Hematite (001), (116), and (104) Surfaces.

Hematite's common (001) and (012) facets are frequently used in model studies of lead (Pb) adsorption behavior, but there is a lack of research on the high-energy facets, e.g., (104), present in nature.

Disulfide-stabilized diabodies enable near-atomic cryo-EM imaging of small proteins: A case study of the bacterial Na/citrate symporter CitS.

Diabodies are engineered antibody fragments with two antigen-binding Fv domains. Previously, we demonstrated that they are often highly flexible but can be rigidified by introducing a disulfide bond at the Fv interface. In this study, we explored the potential of disulfide-bridged, bispecific diabodies for near-atomic cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) imaging of small proteins because they can predictably link target proteins to "structural marker" proteins.

Simultaneous removal of phosphorus, chromium (Ⅵ), and antimony (Ⅴ) from textile dye wastewater by electrocoagulation.

Concerns have been raised regarding the biological and environmental risks posed by phosphorus (P), chromium (Cr(VI)), and antimony (Sb(V)) in textile dye wastewater. However, achieving the simultaneous removal of P, Cr(VI), and Sb(V) remains challenging, and the interactions among these pollutants are not well understood. We investigated electrocoagulation as a method for the simultaneous removal of these pollutants, utilizing response surface methodology to optimize operating parameters.

Bone Regeneration Enhanced by Quercetin-Capped Selenium Nanoparticles via miR206/Connexin43, WNT, and BMP signaling pathways.

Age-related alterations in the skeletal system are linked to decreased bone mass, a reduction in bone strength and density, and an increased risk of fractures and osteoporosis. Therapeutics are desired to stimulate bone regeneration and restore imbalance in the bone remodeling process. Quercetin (Qu), a naturally occurring flavonoid, induces osteogenesis; however, its solubility, stability, and bioavailability limit its therapeutic use.

Complex Adsorption Behavior of Neodymium and Ytterbium on Structurally-Distinct Alumina Surfaces.

New sources of rare earth elements (REEs) are needed to support a green energy transition. REEs adsorbed to aluminum-rich clays in weathering deposits represent important resources, but the mechanisms responsible for their retention and ease of extraction are unresolved. Disordered coordination and co-occurrence of multiple species pose challenges to investigating REE adsorption processes via established spectroscopic methods.

Excess mortality in older adults and cumulative excess mortality across all ages during the COVID-19 pandemic in the 20 countries with the highest mortality rates worldwide.

Background: Mortality statistics during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are crucial for the allocation of medical care resources and public health decision-making. This study was initiated to investigate the excess mortality among older adults during the pandemic. Our research focuses on 2 primary areas.

AI-enabled language models (LMs) to large language models (LLMs) and multimodal large language models (MLLMs) in drug discovery and development.

Background: Due to the recent revolution of artificial intelligence (AI), AI-enabled large language models (LLMs) have flourished and started to be applied in various sectors of science and medicine. Drug discovery and development are time-consuming, complex processes that require high investment. The conventional method of drug discovery is costly and has a high failure rate.

Lead Adsorption and Desorption at the Barite (001) Surface in the Presence of EDTA.

Scaling minerals, such as barite, can cause detrimental consequences for oil/gas pipelines and water systems, but their formation can be inhibited by organic chelators such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Here, we resolve how EDTA affects sorption and desorption of Pb at the barite (001) surface using a combination of X-ray scattering and microscopy measurements. In the presence of EDTA, Pb incorporated in the topmost part of the barite surface and adsorbed as inner-sphere complexes on the surface.

A disintegrin and metallopeptidase domain (ADAM) 12, ADAM 17 mRNA and ADAM10 protein hold potential as biomarkers for detection of early gastric cancer.

No biomarker can effectively screen for early gastric cancer (EGC). Players in the A disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM)-natural killer group 2 member D (NKG2D) receptor axis may have a role for that. As a proof-of-concept pilot study, the expression of ADAM8, ADAM9, ADAM10, ADAM12, ADAM17, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I chain-related sequence A (MICA), a ligand for NKG2D, in gastric cancer was investigated in silico using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database.

[Guideline for Minimizing Radiation Exposure of Interventionalists during Fluoroscopy-guided Interventional Procedures].

As fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedures gain popularity, the associated health threats from radiation exposure to interventionalists during these procedures are increasing. Therefore, an understanding of the potential risks of radiation and careful consideration on minimizing exposure to radiation during the procedures are of paramount importance. The Korean Pancreatobiliary Association has developed a clinical practice guideline to minimize radiation exposure during fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedures.

Prompt engineering-enabled LLM or MLLM and instigative bioinformatics pave the way to identify and characterize the significant SARS-CoV-2 antibody escape mutations.

The research aims to identify and characterize the antibody escape mutations of NTD and RBD regions of SARS-CoV-2 using prompt engineering-enabled combined LLMs (large language models) and instigative bioinformatics techniques. We used two LLMs (ChatGPT and Mistral 7B) and one MLLM (Gemini model) to retrieve the significant NTD and RBD mutations. The retrieved significant mutations were characterized through the in silico servers.

Mapping the Potential Genes and Associated Pathways Involved in Long COVID-Associated Brain Fog Using Integrative Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Strategy.

One of the recent emerging global health issues is long COVID. Among long COVID patients, long COVID-associated brain fog is an important area. We noted an immense gap in understanding the genes and associated pathways involved in long COVID-associated brain fog.

Diagnostic performance of procalcitonin for bacterial infection in severe alcoholic hepatitis compared with C-reactive protein.

Background: Severe alcoholic hepatitis is a catastrophic disease with a mortality rate of up to 35-50% at 30 days. Bacterial infection is an important prognostic factor in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis, but it is difficult to detect the presence of infection immediately. Procalcitonin (PCT) is a well-known inflammatory marker that can detect bacterial infections in various diseases early.

Circulating tumor DNA status and dynamics predict recurrence in patients with resected extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Background & Aims: Surgery is the only curative therapeutic option for resectable extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, but recurrence is common, and prognosis is poor. There is an unmet clinical need for improved decision-making regarding adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT). Herein, we evaluated the usefulness of monitoring longitudinal circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) for molecular residual disease (MRD) in patients from the STAMP trial, which compared the efficacy of adjuvant capecitabine (CAP) vs.

Protecting our future: environmental hazards and children's health in the face of environmental threats: a comprehensive overview.

Children face the excitement of a changing world but also encounter environmental threats to their health that were neither known nor suspected several decades ago. Children are at particular risk of exposure to pollutants that are widely dispersed in the air, water, and food. Children and adolescents are exposed to chemical, physical, and biological risks at home, in school, and elsewhere.

Seed priming with FeO-SiO nanocomposites simultaneously mitigate Cd and Cr stress in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.): A way forward for sustainable environmental management.

Seed priming with a composite of iron oxide (FeO) and silicon dioxide (SiO) nanoparticles (NPs) is an innovative technique to mitigate cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr) uptake in plants from rooting media. The current study explored the impact of seed priming with varying levels of FeO NPs, SiO NPs, and FeO-SiO nanocomposites on Cd and Cr absorption and phytotoxicity, metal-induced oxidative stress mitigation, growth and biomass yield of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.).

Mechanistic insight into interactive effect of microplastics and arsenic on growth of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and soil health indicators.

Microplastics (MPs) pollution has recently become a major concern for agroecosystems. The interplay between MPs, and heavy metal(loid)s in the soil can intensify the risks to plant growth and human health. The current study investigated the interactive effects of arsenic (As) and biodegradable and petroleum-based conventional MPs on rice growth, As bioavailability, soil bacterial communities, and soil enzyme activities.