Immune Landscape Changes in MASLD and the Effects of 11β-HSD1 Inhibition Revealed by Single-Cell Mass Cytometry.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) affects nearly one-fourth of the global population, yet effective diagnostics and treatments remain limited. Systemic immune dysregulation plays a key role in MASLD pathogenesis, highlighting the value of immune profiling.

Methods: In this study, we used high-dimensional single-cell mass cytometry (CyTOF) to analyze peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors (n = 6), MASLD patients (n = 4), and MASLD patients treated with an 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) inhibitor (n = 2).

A continuous real-world dataset comprising wearable-based heart rate variability alongside sleep diaries.

Wearable technology is a promising tool for everyday health monitoring, with heart rate variability (HRV) providing key insights into current and potential health conditions. However, previous HRV datasets were collected under controlled clinical conditions, rather than in complex real-world environments. Here, we collected continuous physiological and motion signals using smartwatches from 49 healthy individuals (mean age: 28.

Comparison of sarcopenia screening indices using serum creatinine and cystatin C in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and sarcopenia share underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and can bidirectionally influence the development and progression of each other. Diagnosing sarcopenia in individuals with MASLD is challenging due to overlapping symptoms and the frequent requirement for expensive, specialized equipment for muscle mass assessment. Therefore, accessible screening methods are crucial.

Non-contact radiofrequency stimulation to the olfactory nerve of human subjects.

Damage to the olfactory nerve, caused by aging, trauma, or neurological disorders, can lead to smell loss, negatively impacting quality of life, taste perception, safety, and emotional well-being. Currently, olfactory training, which involves exposure to aromatic odorants, is the most widely used treatment. While this method provides some benefit, it does not offer a fundamental cure.

A new formula consisting of the five-factor score and earliest vasculitis damage index at diagnosis for predicting poor outcomes of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis.

Background: This study aimed to investigate whether a new formula consisting of more than two antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV)-specific indices at diagnosis could predict poor outcomes during follow-up in patients with AAV.

Methods: This study included 323 patients first diagnosed with AAV. AAV-specific indices included the Birmingham vasculitis activity score (BVAS), the five-factor score (FFS), and the earliest vasculitis damage index (eVDI).

Electrochemical dual-sensing of lactate and glucose using NiO nanoparticles with cross-sensitivity calibration.

Detection and monitoring of lactate and glucose levels in biological fluids and cell cultures are essential for understanding metabolic disorders. While electrochemical biosensors are commonly used, traditional enzymatic sensors face challenges related to stability, reproducibility, and cost. To address these limitations, we developed non-enzymatic sensors for lactate and glucose detection using nanostructured nickel oxide (NiO)-modified screen-printed carbon electrodes.

Oral-gut microbiome axis in a Korean cohort with inflammatory bowel disease and ankylosing spondylitis (INTEGRATE): a prospective and observational study protocol.

Introduction: The global burden of chronic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) is increasing, and rising prevalence rates significantly affect socioeconomic factors and quality of life. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), along with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), are prominent chronic IMIDs that share overlapping pathophysiological mechanisms. Recent research has highlighted the importance of the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of these diseases, suggesting that shared microbial dysbiosis may contribute to their development.

Comparison of Three Surgical Options for Treatment of Diaphyseal Tibia Fractures in Pediatric Patients.

Background: Most pediatric diaphyseal tibia fractures can be treated with reduction and casting. While surgical reduction and fixation are sometimes necessary, there is no clear consensus about the optimal implant. Plate osteosynthesis (PO), elastic intramedullary nailing (EIN), and multiplanar external fixation (MEF) are common surgical fixation methods in the skeletally immature patient after failing closed reduction.

Predicting sleep quality with digital biomarkers and artificial neural networks.

Introduction: Modern society's increasing stress and irregular lifestyles have led to rising insomnia prevalence, making sleep quality assessment crucial for health management. This study investigates the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV) collected from wearable devices and sleep quality, specifically focusing on wake-after-sleep-onset (WASO) as a critical marker of sleep fragmentation. We aimed to develop predictive models for next-day sleep quality using continuous digital biomarkers.

Design and application of a realistic and multifunctional retinal phantom for standardizing ophthalmic imaging systems.

Retinal imaging is essential for diagnosing and treating retinal diseases. However, the lack of standardized and realistic optical phantoms limits the calibration and validation of imaging systems. Here we developed a realistic retinal phantom based on the concept of a super phantom designed to replicate the morphological and functional characteristics of the human retina.

Optimal Timing for Expanding Diagnostic Laboratories, South Korea.

The rapid expansion of testing capacity is imperative for an adequate response to infectious diseases, such as COVID-19. South Korea rapidly secured large-scale testing during the early stages of COVID-19 in 2020 by leveraging the country's experience with the 2015 Middle East respiratory syndrome outbreak; the initial response was relatively successful. A key difference between the 2 outbreak responses was the expansion from public to private testing laboratories during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cross-Species Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 From Dogs to Hamsters and Pathological Changes in the Brain.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), COVID-19 causative agent, infects several species. Although COVID-19 was reported in some dogs, their roles in transmitting SARS-CoV-2 to other species remain unclear. We investigated the ability of COVID-19 infected dogs to transmit SARS-CoV-2 virus to hamsters and assessed associated pulmonary and neuropathological changes in hamsters.

Genomic evidence for interserovar transfer and evolution of bla carrying plasmid in multidrug-resistant Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Virchow isolated in South Korea.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis (SE) carrying bla has emerged in South Korea; however, the genetic characteristics and evolutionary dynamics of the plasmids remain understudied. This study aimed to characterize the structure, diversity, and evolution of bla-carrying plasmids in SE strains from human and animal sources in South Korea. Plasmid structures of bla-positive SE strains from South Korea were analyzed using incompatibility groups typing and genome alignment tools.

Impact of Early MPO-ANCA Positivity on Unique Clinical Features in Korean Patients with EGPA: A Single-Centre Cohort Study.

: Previous studies have suggested differences in vasculitic and eosinophilic phenotypes based on anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) positivity in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). However, their relevance under the 2022 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) classification criteria remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the clinical features and outcomes of EGPA according to myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA status in a Korean cohort.

Clinical Significance of Peripheral Arterial Disease Evaluation in Patients with Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis.

: This study investigated the frequency and clinical significance of subclinical but substantial peripheral arterial disease (PAD), identified using PAD evaluation, including pulse volume recording/ankle-brachial index (PVR/ABI), transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcpO2), and skin perfusion pressure (SPP) tests in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV). This study included 54 patients with PAD evaluation results at or after AAV diagnosis. PVR/ABI and/or TcpO2 and/or SPP were performed on the same day.

Unraveling the differential diagnosis of hyperferritinemia: insights from a retrospective study at a tertiary care hospital.

Objectives: Elevated serum ferritin levels are associated with various clinical conditions, including inflammation and tissue damage. This study aims to investigate the distribution of diagnoses associated with hyperferritinemia in different clinical contexts.

Methods: Patients admitted to Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea, between January and December 2017, with serum ferritin levels of 500 ng/ml or higher, were included.

Recent advances in molecularly imprinted polymers toward biomedical healthcare devices.

Following the increase in the global aging population, the importance of monitoring various disease-related biomarkers at an early stage has increased to ensure the health of the elderly. In an aging society, point-of-care (POC) systems are needed to care for elderly people who have physical and mental disorders. In light of the increasing prominence of POC systems, there is a growing effort to address the limitations associated with conventional receptors in wearable devices by substituting them with molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP).

Antiviral effects of heme oxygenase-1 against canine coronavirus and canine influenza virus in vitro.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Emerging evidence shows that HO-1 also exhibits antiviral activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and Ebola virus. Its antiviral effects are mediated not only by its enzymatic function but also through the modulation of interferon-related pathways, thereby inhibiting viral replication.

The 96-Puddle Paper Plate as a Versatile Lab-on-Paper Platform.

Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPADs) have facilitated the detection of a wide range of analytes, spanning human health indicators and environmental contaminants. However, their diverse designs necessitate specialized analytical equipment, which complicates standardization, limits productivity, impedes universal analysis, and hinders the acquisition of reliable data. To address these issues, a 96-Puddle Paper Plate (96-PPP) is presented, a versatile lab-on-paper platform that is fully compatible with microplate readers.

Whole-genome sequencing analysis of serotype Enteritidis isolated from poultry sources in Mongolia.

serotype Enteritidis ( Enteritidis) is a leading foodborne pathogen associated with poultry products, and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in this serotype poses a growing public health concern, particularly in regions with increasing poultry trade. Between April and June 2024, we collected 114 poultry meat samples (Mongolian domestic and Chinese imported) from retail markets in Mongolia and isolated 45 Enteritidis strains. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed high resistance rates to nalidixic acid (100%), ampicillin (93.

The Healthcare Experience of Autistic Patients in Orthopaedic Surgery: A Survey Study of Autistic Patients' Parents, Caregivers, and Orthopaedic Providers.

Background: Autistic patients can have different communication and sensory needs, potentially making orthopaedic visits stressful. This study evaluated which factors play the greatest role in autistic patients' comfort and overall experience in orthopaedic settings by surveying the parents, caregivers, and orthopaedic providers of these patients.

Methods: We developed two online surveys focused on the experience of autistic patients in orthopaedic settings: one for parents/caregivers and another for orthopaedic surgeons.

Management of Syndesmotic Ankle Injuries: Results of a Survey of Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America Members.

Background: Although utilization of dynamic suture-button fixation for adult syndesmotic injuries has shown improved outcomes over static screw fixation, data in pediatric populations is limited. This study evaluated trends in management and identified factors influencing surgeon choice of implant for pediatric syndesmotic injuries.

Methods: The Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) members were surveyed regarding syndesmotic injury implant preferences between October 2021 and May 2022.

Adjusted Global Antiphospholipid Syndrome Score Is Associated with End-Stage Kidney Disease in Patients with ANCA-Associated Vasculitis: A Single-Centre Pilot Study.

Purpose: The adjusted Global Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) Score (aGAPSS) was developed for assessing the probability of thrombotic events in APS patients. This study investigated whether the aGAPSS at diagnosis was associated with poor outcomes during follow-up in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV).

Materials And Methods: This study included 170 AAV patients who had the results of APS-related antibodies at diagnosis but were not diagnosed with APS.

Development and Validation of an Online Intervention Program to Augment Psychological Resilience: A Randomized Waitlist-Controlled Trial.

Objective: Resilience is the ability to bounce back from stressful events using individual and environmental resources. The online intervention program, MoVemEnT, which includes mindfulness training and emotion regulation, was developed to enhance resilience among young adults.

Methods: Persons without current medical or psychiatric diseases, aged 20-40 years, were recruited.