Triflumizole induces excessive reactive oxygen species, inhibits the GPR30/PI3K/AKT pathway, and triggers apoptosis and autophagy in GC-1 spermatogonia cells.

Triflumizole (TFZ) is a widely-used imidazole-based fungicide effective against a broad range of fungal infections. Although its obesogenic and endocrine-disrupting properties have been studied, the cytotoxic effects of TFZ on male reproductive cells and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study demonstrates that TFZ inhibits GC-1 spermatogonia (spg) cell proliferation, a type B spermatogonia, with an IC of 30.

Procyanidin B2-induced LKB1-AMPK activation mitigates vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation through inhibition of mTOR signaling.

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation contributes to intimal thickening in atherosclerosis and restenosis diseases. As a proanthocyanidin type B, procyanidin B2 (PB2) is abundantly found in cocoa, apples, and grapes and is reported to have vascular protective effects. However, the mechanisms by which PB2 inhibits proliferation of VSMCs are not clearly understood.

Differential expression of PPARγ by pioglitazone and telmisartan causes effect of disparity on mTORC2-mediated cell proliferation and migration.

Excessive cell proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) exacerbate atherosclerotic plaque formation. Peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) has an atheroprotective effect by inhibiting foam cell formation in macrophages. However, the anti-proliferative mechanism of PPARγ has not been fully explained in VSMCs.

Intratumoral Injection of Allogeneic NK Cell With Chemotherapy in a Triple-negative Breast Cancer Preclinical Model.

Background/aim: Conventional therapies for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) usually exhibit low efficacy. This study aimed to demonstrate the feasibility and antitumor efficacy of intratumoral (IT) injection of allogeneic natural killer (NK) cells with or without chemotherapy in the TNBC preclinical model.

Materials And Methods: The TNBC preclinical models were generated in athymic nude and NOD/SCID mice.

Nationwide real-world practice pattern and clinical data of palbociclib in HR (+), HER2 (-) metastatic breast cancer patients in Korea (KCSG BR21-15).

Background: Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitors have remarkably improved the survival outcome in hormone-receptor-positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor-2-negative (HER2-) metastatic breast cancer (mBC). Although PALOMA-2 has met its primary outcome, overall survival (OS) was relatively shorter compared to ribociclib and abemaciclib. In Korea, use of palbociclib + aromatase inhibitor (AI) + gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) in premenopausal women is limited, and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) is necessary before treatment.

Unconventional domain tessellations in moiré-of-moiré lattices.

Imposing incommensurable periodicity on the periodic atomic lattice can lead to complex structural phases consisting of locally periodic structure bounded by topological defects. Twisted trilayer graphene (TTG) is an ideal material platform to study the interplay between different atomic periodicities, which can be tuned by twist angles between the layers, leading to moiré-of-moiré lattices. Interlayer and intralayer interactions between two interfaces in TTG transform this moiré-of-moiré lattice into an intricate network of domain structures at small twist angles, which can harbour exotic electronic behaviours.

SOX5 inhibition overcomes PARP inhibitor resistance in BRCA-mutated breast and ovarian cancer.

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors are effective in cells with homologous recombination (HR) deficiency, including BRCA1/2 mutation. However, PARP inhibitors remain a therapeutic challenge in breast and ovarian cancer due to inevitably acquired resistance in most cases. Therefore, strategies to overcome PARP inhibitor resistance are unmet clinical need.

Shear wave elastography ultrasound assessment of the ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow of college baseball players.

Background: The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) stabilizes the elbow during overhead throwing activities. Repetitive throwing can cause valgus laxity even without injury. Shear-wave ultrasound elastography (SWE) is a novel imaging technique that assesses tissue elasticity.

Reliability of Ultrasound Elastography According to Experience Level and Anatomic Location.

Backgroud: Strain elastography (SE) and shear wave elastography (SWE) are emerging techniques for evaluating the elasticity of soft tissue. This study aimed to determine interobserver and intraobserver reliability for elasticity measurements of different tissues and anatomic locations using SE and SWE.

Methods: Ten healthy adult male individuals with 20 upper extremities participated in this study.

Data-Driven Analysis of High-Temperature Fluorocarbon Plasma for Semiconductor Processing.

The semiconductor industry increasingly relies on high aspect ratio etching facilitated by Amorphous Carbon Layer (ACL) masks for advanced 3D-NAND and DRAM technologies. However, carbon contamination in ACL deposition chambers necessitates effective fluorine-based plasma cleaning. This study employs a high-temperature inductively coupled plasma (ICP) system and Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (ToF-MS) to analyze gas species variations under different process conditions.

Electrical and fluorescence in situ monitoring of tumor microenvironment-based pH-responsive polymer dot coated surface.

A boronate-ester structure forming a pH-responsive polymer dot (Plu-PD) coated biosensor between carbonized-sp rich dopamine-alginate [PD(Alg)] and boronic acid-grafted Pluronic (BA-Pluronic) was developed for the electrochemical and fluorescence detection of cancer cells. The reduced fluorescence (FL) resulting from fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) mediated by π-π interactions within Plu-PD was successfully reinvigorated through the specific cleavage of the boronate-ester bond, triggered by the acidic conditions prevailing in the cancer microenvironment. The anomalous variations in extracellular pH levels observed in cancer (pH ∼6.

Telomere stabilization by metformin mitigates the progression of atherosclerosis via the AMPK-dependent p-PGC-1α pathway.

Telomere dysfunction is a well-known molecular trigger of senescence and has been associated with various age-related diseases, including atherosclerosis. However, the mechanisms involved have not yet been elucidated, and the extent to which telomeres contribute to atherosclerosis is unknown. Therefore, we investigated the mechanism of metformin-induced telomere stabilization and the ability of metformin to inhibit vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) senescence caused by advanced atherosclerosis.

Elucidating the mechanisms and mitigation strategies for six-phthalate-induced toxicity in male germ cells.

Phthalate esters (PAEs) are primary plasticizers and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that are extensively used in numerous everyday consumer products. Although the adverse effects of single PAEs have been studied, our understanding of the effect of multiple phthalate exposure on male germ cell vitality remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the collective effects of a mixture of PAEs (MP) comprising diethyl-, bis (2-ethylhexyl)-, dibutyl-, diisononyl-, diisobutyl-, and benzyl butyl-phthalates in the proportions of 35, 21, 15, 15, 8, and 5%, respectively, on differentiated male germ cells using GC-1 spermatogonia (spg) cells.

Mitigation of benzyl butyl phthalate toxicity in male germ cells with combined treatment of parthenolide, N-acetylcysteine, and 3-methyladenine.

Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) is a widely used plasticizer that poses various potential health hazards. Although BBP has been extensively studied, the direct mechanism underlying its toxicity in male germ cells remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated BBP-mediated male germ cell toxicity in GC-1 spermatogonia (spg), a differentiated mouse male germ cell line.

Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 on Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Atezolizumab/Bevacizumab.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has proven challenging to the management of patients with cancer, particularly those receiving systemic therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with atezolizumab/bevacizumab. Patients with unresectable HCC who started atezolizumab/bevacizumab treatment between June 2020 and December 2021 at a tertiary cancer center in Korea were included ( = 241) and classified according to their COVID-19 status and severity.

Inhibition of reactive oxygen species generation by N-Acetyl Cysteine can mitigate male germ cell toxicity induced by bisphenol analogs.

The estrogen-like effect of bisphenol A (BPA) disrupting the maintenance of functional male germ cells is associated with male sub-fertility. This study investigated toxicity of male germ cells induced by four bisphenol analogs: BPA, BPAF, BPF, and BPS. The investigation of bisphenol analogs' impact on male germ cells included assessing proliferation, apoptosis induction, and the capacity to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in GC-1 spermatogonia (spg) cells, specifically type B spermatogonia.

SIRT1-dependent PGC-1α deacetylation by SRT1720 rescues progression of atherosclerosis by enhancing mitochondrial function.

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) senescence promotes atherosclerosis via lipid-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. However, the mechanisms of mitochondrial dysfunction and VSMC senescence in atherosclerosis have not been established. Here, we investigated the mechanisms whereby signaling pathways regulated by SRT1720 enhance or regulate mitochondrial functions in atherosclerotic VSMCs to suppress atherosclerosis.

Diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP)-induced male germ cell toxicity and its alleviation approach.

Diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP) is a commonly used plasticizer in manufacturing consumer and industrial products to improve flexibility and durability. Despite of the numerous studies, however, the direct mechanism underlying the male reproductive damage of DiBP is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the male germ cell toxicity of DiBP using GC-1 spermatogonia (spg) cells.

PSPC1 Inhibition Synergizes with Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors in a Preclinical Model of BRCA-Mutated Breast/Ovarian Cancer.

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors are effective against -mutated cancers through synthetic lethality. Unfortunately, most cases ultimately develop acquired resistance. Therefore, enhancing PARP inhibitor sensitivity and preventing resistance in those cells are an unmet clinical need.

Targeting PEG10 as a novel therapeutic approach to overcome CDK4/6 inhibitor resistance in breast cancer.

Background: Breast cancer is the global leading cancer burden in women and the hormone receptor-positive (HR+) subtype is a major part of breast cancer. Though cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors are highly effective therapy for HR+ subtype, acquired resistance is inevitable in most cases. Herein, we investigated the paternally expressed gene 10 (PEG10)-associated mechanism of acquired resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors.

PPARγ activation by fisetin mitigates vascular smooth muscle cell senescence via the mTORC2-FoxO3a-autophagy signaling pathway.

Cellular senescence is caused by diverse stimuli and contributes to cardiovascular diseases. Several studies have indicated that PPARγ acts as a key mediator of lipid metabolism and shown that it has a protective effect on vascular biology. Nevertheless, the mechanism responsible for the anti-aging effects of PPARγ has not been fully elucidated in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC).

Intravenous Tranexamic Acid Improves Visual Clarity During Synovectomy in Patients Undergoing Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Study.

Purpose: To assess the effects of intravenous tranexamic acid (TXA) on visual clarity at various surgical stages and the correlation between the severity of synovitis and bursitis and the grade of visual clarity in patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery under an interscalene brachial plexus block.

Methods: This double-blind, randomized controlled study included patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. The TXA group underwent injection of a 100-mL mixture of 1,000 mg of TXA and normal saline solution intravenously whereas the control group was administered the same volume of normal saline solution at 10 minutes preoperatively.

Multicolor Hair Dyeing with Biocompatible Dark Polyphenol Complex-Integrated Shampoo with Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenging Activity.

Hair dyeing has become a prevalent lifestyle trend, especially within the fashion industry. However, it possesses disadvantages, such as containing carcinogenic and toxic materials. In this study, we developed a biocompatible hair-dyeing technology using a shampoo with a dark polyphenol complex (DPC), referred to as S-DPC.

A Novel Dual-labeled Peptide for Multimodal Imaging of EGFR with L858R Mutation.

Background: The development of molecular imaging agents targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) with L858R mutation may help with the selection of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLCL) patients who may benefit from EFGR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy.

Objective: In this study, we developed Tc STHHYYP-GHEG-ECGK-tetramethylrhodamine (STHHYYP-ECGK-TAMRA) to target EGFR with L858R mutation in NSCLC tumors and verified its probability as a molecular imaging agent.

Methods: Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis was used to synthesize STHHYYP-ECGKTAMRA.

Combined PI3K Inhibitor and Eribulin Enhances Anti-Tumor Activity in Preclinical Models of Paclitaxel-Resistant, PIK3CA-Mutated Endometrial Cancer.

Endometrial cancer stands as the predominant gynecological malignancy in developed nations. For advanced or recurrent disease, paclitaxel-based chemotherapy is the standard front-line therapy. However, paclitaxel resistance eternally develops.